The Federal Cabinet of Pakistan has approved measures to ease hiring foreign experts for investment promotion.
The government’s decision addresses the long-standing inefficiencies within the national bureaucracy. It is motivated by an expected $5 billion investment from Saudi Arabia, which includes a high-profit margin of 50% for the Greenfield Mine Development in Khuzdar.
Sources indicate that the Pakistani bureaucracy often seemed less prepared than its Saudi counterparts during project discussions. The issue stems from a bureaucratic structure in which federal secretaries, typically generalists, are rotated across various ministries.
The Federal Cabinet has endorsed a special procedure for contracting renowned consulting firms to address these challenges. It allows exemptions from the PPRA Ordinance and other laws under Section 10F of the Board of Investment Ordinance 2001. These exemptions are part of a five-year program to facilitate hiring top-tier consultants.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raises questions regarding the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s limited authority to hire foreign experts quickly. Pakistani officials recognize the need for a fast-track approach to engage foreign consultancy services without delays.
Under the new regulations, chosen consulting firms will operate within a framework established by the Special Investment Facilitation Council and the Special Joint Committee, approved by the Federal Cabinet.
Additionally, as part of these efforts, Machinery International has been selected to digitalize the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), with this initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
