The president has issued ordinances to restructure the management systems of four government institutions, aligning them with commitments made to the IMF.
The National Highway Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, Pakistan Postal Services Management Board (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 were promulgated on Thursday following briefings by respective secretaries, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
As a result of these amendments, the positions of chairpersons and chief executives in the NHA, Pakistan Post, PNSC, and PBC will be separated to ensure good governance in accordance with international best practices. Independent members will be appointed to their boards.
These changes aim to bring these entities in line with the State Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Act, 2023, enacted in January. The amendments are integral to the State Owned Enterprises reforms agreed upon by the Government of Pakistan with international partners and are included in the Standby Agreement with the IMF as a structural benchmark.
The amended laws incorporate various provisions of the SOE Act, such as regular reporting of an entity’s performance to the Central Monitoring Unit, the preparation of annual business plans, and the preparation and public disclosure of reports to enhance transparency and public awareness. The overall impact of these legal amendments is expected to result in improved governance, service delivery, and accountability to the public, as stated in the press release.
