Pakistan anticipates a culmination of a pivotal $10 billion deal with Saudi Arabia’s petroleum giant, Aramco, to establish a refinery in Hub, set to be finalized this year.
The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), an initiative uniting military and civil authorities, is considering plans to secure an additional $7 billion from Saudi Arabia. This would involve offering the kingdom equity in the Reko Diq project. An authoritative figure disclosed, “Saudi Arabia might acquire a stake in the $7 billion Reko Diq venture, leveraging a viable transaction framework via the Saudi Wealth Fund.”
Furthermore, prospects of leasing an expansive 85,000-acre agricultural corporate farm to international investors are being deliberated upon.
Enhancing Infrastructure Investment
The SIFC, with a commitment to bolstering investment in pivotal infrastructure, is drafting a strategic transaction pipeline. Emphasizing the significance of government-to-government (G2G) agreements, recent discussions have highlighted intentions to expedite G2G partnerships across sectors, including energy, IT, minerals, and agriculture. A structured Framework for Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions is already operational.
The Council has been evaluating G2G models for potential privatisation of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). A transaction between the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and AD Ports, UAE, concerning a container terminal in Karachi has already been executed.
A subsequent deal involving the KPT and AD Ports, centred around the Bulk and General Cargo Terminal operations, is nearing completion. The SIFC is also keen on exploring technology-centric investment opportunities to advance the nation’s productivity further.
