Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017.

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THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AUTHORITY  
ACT, 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
____________ 
 
CHAPTER I  
 
PRELIMINARY 
 
1.         Short title, extent, application and commencement. 
 
2.         Definitions. 
 
CHAPTER II  
 
Institutional Framework  
 
PART-I 
 
Authority and its Board 
 
 
3.         Establishment of the Authority. 
 
4.         Functions and powers of the Authority. 
 
5.         Appointment of officers and staff of the Authority. 
 
6.         Board of the Authority. 
 
7.         Chief Executive Officer. 
 
8.         Functions and powers of the Board. 
 
9.          Disqualifications to become a member and Conflict. 
 
9A.       Accounts and audit. 
 
     PART II 
 
P3A Fund, Viability Gap Fund and Project Development Facility 
 
10.          P3A Fund. 
11.          Viability gap Fund. 

 
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12.          Project development facility . 
 
CHAPTER III 
PART I 
 
Risk Management Unit 
 
12A.        Risk management Unit. 
 
    PART II 
 
Implementing Agencies 
 
13.          Responsibility of an implementing agency . 
 
           PART III 
 
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (P3) WORKING PARTY (P3WP) 
 
13A.        P3WP. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
Approvals and Process Flow For Qualified Projects 
 
14.          Approval of qualified projects and related matters. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
Legal and Contractual Framework 
 
   14A.         Private sector participation. 
 
15.          Contents of public private partnership agreements . 
 
16.          Contractual relationship. 
 
17.          Protection of interests. 
 
18.          Settlement of disputes. 
 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
Public Private Partnership Project Procurement 
 
19.          Negotiation of the agreement. 
 
20.          Negotiated procurement of project. 
 
21.          Vesting of project. 
 
CHAPTER VII  
 
Miscellaneous Provisions 
 
22.          No compensation for risks not covered. 
 
23.          Compensation and  recovery of costs, dues and fees. 
 
24.          Transparency and public disclosure. 
 
 
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25.          Power to make rules. 
 
25A.        Power to make regulations. 
 
26.          Indemnity. 
 
27.          Removal of difficulties. 
 
28.          Annual Report. 
 
29.          Overriding effect. 
 
30.          Authority to be exempted from taxation. 
 
31.    Hiring of consultants and experts. 
 
32.    Prior consent of the Board with respect to certain legal actions. 
 
 
 
 
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THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AUTHORITY ACT, 2017 
 
(ACT NO. VIII OF 2017) 
[31th March, 2017] 
 
1[2[An Act to  create  an  enabling  environment  for development projects and the provision of 
public infrastructure and related services in Pakistan through private sector participation.] 
 
WHEREAS it is expedient to establish a regulatory framework to execute public private 
partnerships in Pakistan so as to promote domestic and foreign private investment in development 
projects to increase the availability of public infrastructure and service delivery and improve their 
reliability and quality for accelerating economic growth and achieving the social objectives of the 
government, to mobilize private sector resources for fin ancing, construction, operations and 
maintenance of development projects, to improve efficiency of man agement, operation and 
maintenance of development projects in the public sector by introduction of modern technologies 
and management techniques, to reduce transaction costs, ensure appropriate regulatory controls and 
promote transparency and accountability in carrying out development projects.] 
 
 It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
 
CHAPTER I  
 
Preliminary 
 
1. Short title, extent, application and commencement. — (1) This Act may be called the 
Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017. 
(2)    It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
(3)    It shall come into force at once. 
 3[* * *  *  *  *  *] 
 
4[2. Definitions. — In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, 
— 
 
(a)   “Authority” or  “ P3A” means the Public Private Partnership Authority established 
under section 3; 
(b) “Board” means the Board constituted in accordance with section 6; 
(c)       “CDWP” means the central development working party. 
(d) “company” or “IPDF” means Infrastructure Project Development Facility a 
corporate entity registered and operating under the provisions of the Companies 
Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017); 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. by Act VI of 2021, s. 2. 
2Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s.2. which was previously Subs. by Act VI of 2021 s.2. 
3Omitted Sub-sec (4) by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s.3. 
4Subs. by Act VI of 2021, s. 3.
 
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(e) “dispute” means any monetary claim or contractual dispute between a private 
party and an implementing agency under a public private partnership agreement; 
(f) “ECNEC” means the executive committee of the National Economic Council; 
(g) “implementing agency” means any of the line ministries, attached departments, 
body corporate, autonomous body of the Federal Government or any 
organization or corporation owned or controlled by the Federal Government; 
(h) “lender” means a financial institution that provides loan to a private party for 
implementation of a project; 
(i)  “P3A fund” means the fund established under section 10; 
(j)  “P3WP” means the public private partnership working p arty established under 
section 13A; 
(k) “person” includes an individual, a company, a statutory body corporate, an 
association of persons whether incorporated or not, a trust and a partnership; 
(l)  “prescribed” means prescribed by rules or regulations made under this Act; 
(m) “private party” means a person who is eligible to bid for a project with an 
implementing agency in  accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed 
under this Act; 
(n) “project” means a development project, provision of related services or both, 
under a public private partnership arrangement; 
(o) “project qualification 1[proposal]”, in each case, in the form and in the manner 
and meeting such requirements as are prescribed from time to time, means — 
(i) a proposal received by the Authority from an implementing agency for a 
qualified project;  
(ii) a proposal received by the Authority from an implementing agency for a 
qualified project that is prepared and submitted on the basis of a proposal 
from a private party for a project on an unsolicited basis; or 
(iii)     a proposal forwarded to the Authority from CDWP for a qualified project; 
(p) “project concept proposal”, in each case, in the form and in the manner and 
meeting such requirements as are prescribed from time to time, means a  
conceptual proposal— 
(i) received by the Authority from an i mplementing agency for a qu alified 
project; 
 
 
 
1Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s. 4.
 
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(ii) received by the Authority from a private party for a qualified project on an 
unsolicited basis; or 
(iii)    forwarded to the Authority from CDWP for a qualified project; 
 
(q) “project development facility” means the facility established under section 12; 
(r) “project  proposal”  shall  mean  the  detailed  proposal  submitted  by  the 
implementing agency to the Authority after it has received approval of the project 
qualification proposal prepared in respect of a qualified project, to be submitted in 
the form and in the manner and meeting such requirements as are prescribed from 
time to time; 
(s) “project support” means the financial or non-financial support for the project that 
may include the following, namely: — 
 
(i) administrative support to the private party consistent with the private 
party’s responsibilities under the public private partnership agreement and 
applicable l aws for obtaining licenses and clearances from the 
government, a public sector organization or an implementing agency, for 
the purposes of the project on such terms and conditions as may be  
prescribed; provision of utility connections for power, gas and water at the 
project site, acquisition of land or  rights of way necessary for the project 
and rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons directly required 
to execute the project, environmental impact assessment, s afeguards and 
approvals and any other local permitting and approvals; 
(ii) asset-based support such   as  le asing,  l icensing or grant  of  right  to 
mortgage  and  use  land  /  or  infrastructure  f acilities  owned  by the 
government or on implementing agency to the private party; 
(iii)     financial assistance through the viability gap fund; 
(iv)     sovereign guarantees for political or other risks; and 
(v)      any other support prescribed in respect of a qualified project: 
Provided that any funding or financial support provided through the 
project development facility shall not form part of project support; 
(t)     “public private partnership” means a commercial transaction between an 
implementing agency and a private party in terms of which the private party— 
(i)  performs part of an implementing agency’s functions on behalf of it; 
(ii) assumes the responsible use of public property for a project; 
(iii) assumes substantial  financial , technical  and  operational  risks  in 
connection with performance of certain functions of the i mplementing 
agency or the responsible use of public property; or 
 
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(iv)    receives a  benefit for performing the implementing agency’s functions or 
from utilizing the public property, either by way of — 
(a)   consideration to be paid by the implementing agency from its 
budget or revenue; or 
(b)   charges or fees to be collected by the private party from users or 
customers of a service provided to them; or 
(c)   a combination of such consideration and such charges or fees. 
(u) “public private partnership agreement” means a written agreement between an 
implementing agency and a private party for implementation of a project and any 
other agreement subsidiary or incidental to it; 
(v)     “qualified project” means a project undertaken on public private partnership basis 
that meets any of the following criteria, namely: — 
(i) support is required for the project in the form of funding from any 
facility established by t he government for the purpose, including the 
viability gap fund; 
(ii) a sovereign guarantee is required for the project in accordance with any 
rules or regulations that may be prescribed under this Act; 
(iii)     project receives funding through the project development facility; 
(iv) any additional criteria for qualifying projects, as prescribed from time to 
time: 
Provided that a  project not  fulfilling the aforementioned criteria may be 
deemed as a qualified project if so designated by the P3WP for reasons to 
be recorded in writing; 
(w) “request for proposal” means a publicly advertised tender, inviting proposals for 
a qualified project prepared in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the 
rules and regulations made thereunder; 
(x)  “risk management unit” means the unit established under section 12A; 
(y)   “users” means users of a project, whether upon payment of charges, fee or 
otherwise; and 
(z)  “ viability gap fund” means the fund established under section 11.] 
 
  
 
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1[CHAPTER II 
 
Institutional Framework 
 
PART-I  
 
Authority and its Board] 
3. Establishment of the Authority.— (1) As soon as it deems appropriate after the 
commencement of this Act, the Federal Government shall establish 1[the] Public Private Partnership 
Authority for carrying out the purposes and objectives of this Act.  
(2) The Authority shall be an independent body corporate having perpetual succession and 
common seal, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire and hold property, both moveable and 
immovable, and shall by its name and sue and be sued. 
(3) The headquarters of the Authority shall be at Islamabad and it may establish its offices at 
such other place or places as it may consider appropriate. 
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Companies 1[Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017)] and any 
other law for the time being in force, on the date of commencement of this Act, the Company shall 
cease to exist and — 
(a) all assets, rights, powers, authorities and privileges and all property, movable 
and immovable, cash and bank balance, reserve funds, investments and all other 
interest and rights in, or arising out of, such property and all debts, liabilities and 
obligations of whatever kind of the Company subsisting immediately before the 
commencement of this Act, shall stand transferred to and vest in the Authority; 
(b) all contract entered into or rights acquired and all matters and things engaged  
to  be  done  by,  with  or  for  the  Company  before  the   commencement of 
this Act shall be deemed to have been incurred, entered into, acquired or engaged 
to be done by, with or for the Authority, as the case may be; 
(c) all  suits  and  other  legal  proceedings  instituted  by  or  against  the Company 
before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be suits and proceedings 
by or against the Authority as the case may be and may proceed and be dealt with 
accordingly; and 
(d) all employees of the Company shall be deemed to be employees of the Authority 
on not less favorable than the existing terms and conditions of the service, rights 
and privileges and other matters as were applicable to them before the conversion. 
4. Functions  and  powers  of  the  Authority.— (1)  Subject  to  the provisions of this Act, 
the Authority may take such measures and exercise such powers as may be necessary for promoting 
and 1[facilitating] realization of the concept and methods of public private partnership. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. & Ins. by Act VI of 2021, ss. 4, 5 & 6. 
 
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(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by sub- section (1), the 
Authority may— 
 
1[(a)  provide  advisory services in the manner prescribed, either directly or by engaging 
such int ernational or local consultants as may be deemed appropriate, to 
implementing agencies, provincial or other governments within Pakistan and 
entities owned or controlled by such governments, or to such other entities as may 
be determined by the Board, and may charge fees for the provision of the aforesaid 
services;] 
 
2[(b)    ensure value for money by conducting an analysis to evaluate qualified projects in 
the manner prescribed; 
 
(c)        conduct  appraisal  and  project  risk  analysis  for  qualified  projects, including 
with respect to legal risk and receive and take into consideration the overall fiscal 
risk assessment and view submitted by the risk management unit for qualified 
projects; 
 
(d)  assess funding requirements, excluding the project development facility, taking 
into account such assessment undertaken  by the risk management unit; 
 
(e)       assess   funding   requirements   with   respect   to   the   project development 
facility; 
 
1[(f) subject to any rules or regulations made hereunder, advise, facilitate and support, 
as needed, implementing agencies to develop and structure qualified projects;] 
 
(g)        prescribe and receive fees and charges; 
 
(h) standardize contractual provisions and develop sector specific provisions and 
templates including a model public private partnership agreement for projects; 
 
3[* *     * * * * *] 
3
[* *     * * * * *] 
 
(k)      interact, collaborate and liaise with international agencies.] 
5. Appointment of officers and staff of the Authority. — (1) The Authority may appoint 
such officers, experts, advisers, consultants and members of staff as it may consider necessary for 
the efficient performance of its functions in the 1[manner and on such terms and conditions as the 
Board may prescribe by regulations]. 
(2) The of ficers, memb ers of sta ff, advisers, consultants and experts and other p ersons 
appointed by the Authority shall not be civil servants within the meaning of the Civil Servants Act, 
1973 (LXXI of 1973). 
 
 
 
1Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, ss.5 & 6. 
2Subs. by Act No. VI of 2021, s. 6.  
3Omitted ibid. 
 
 
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(3) The officers, advisers, consultants, employees and staff of the Authority when acting or 
purporting to act under any of the provisions of this Act or rules made there under shall be deemed 
to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code  (Act XLV of 
1860). 
6. Board of the Authority.—1[(1) There shall be a Board of Directors of the Authority 
comprising the following, namely: — 
 
 
 
1.        Minister of the Division to which business of this                         Chairperson 
Act stands allocated 
 
2.       Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission                                         Vice- Chairperson 
 
3.        Secretary, Finance Division or his nominee         
or not below the rank of Additional Secretary  
or equivalent                        Member 
  
4.  Secretary of the Division allocated with  
business of this Act his nominee not below 
the rank of Additional Secretary or equivalent.                Member 
5.  Member – Private Sector Development, 
Planning Commission               Member 
 
6. Five members from private sector to be  
nominated by the Federal Government        Member 
7. Chief Executive Officer of the Authority        Member/Cum- 
    Secretary 
 (2) The Chief Executive Officer shall also act as Secretary of the Board 1[or an officer of 
the Authority authorized in this behalf by the Authority]. 
(3) The members from the private sector shall be appointed by the Federal Government for 
a period of three years 1[subject] to such terms and conditions as 1[may be prescribed]. 
1[(4)The Board shall meet at least once in a-quarter in a meeting convened by the 
Chairperson, provided that the Chairperson may convene a meeting at any t ime as deemed 
necessary. The  Secretary of the  Board m ay, in accordance with the prescribed re gulation, take 
approval of the Board through circulation among memb ers of the Board, which shall be 
subsequently placed for ratification in the first Board’s meeting occurring immediately after such 
approval.] 
(5) The meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairperson and in his absence 
by the vice-Chairperson. 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. & ins. by Act VI of 2021.s. 7. 
 
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 1[(6) The quorum for  a meeting of the  Board sh all be five members with at least two 
members from the private sector and the member from the Finance Division and the decisions of the 
Board shall be made with the majority of members of the Board present. In case of a tie, the 
Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, as the case may be, shall have a casting vote.] 
(7) The Board may co-opt such members, as it deems appropriate, for rendering advice on 
case-to-case basis. 1[In respect of a Board meeting where a project proposal or matters relating to a 
qualified project are being considered by the Board, the Secretary of the concerned line ministry (or 
such nominee of the same that meets any prescribed requirements) shall be required to be present in 
such Board meeting as an observer to perform such roles and functions as are prescribed.] 
(8)The Board may, for carrying out its functions, constitute such committees, from time to 
time, as may be considered appropriate and delegate its powers as 1[may be prescribed.] 
7.  Chief Executive Officer.— (1) The Federal Government shall appoint a Chief  Executive 
Officer 1[on the recommendation of the Board] to serve as a member of the Board and sh all be 
responsible for administration of the affairs of 1[the] Authority. 
(2) The Chief  Executive  Officer  shall  be  answerable  to  the  Board  for  all 
administrative, financial and technical matters of the 2[Authority]. 
 
(3) The Chief Executive Officer shall be appointed for a term of three years on su ch 
salary, terms and conditions of service as 1[may be prescribed.] 
1[*      *           *           *           *           *           *] 
1[(4)  The Chief Executive Officer shall be the principal accounting officer of the Authority.] 
8. Functions  and  powers  of  the Board.— (1)  The  general  di rections  and 
superintendence of the Authority and its affairs shall vest in the  Board which may exercise all 
powers, perform all functions and do all acts which may be exercised, performed or done by the 
Authority. 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of powers given in sub-section (1), the Board 
shall perform, inter-alia 1[***] the following 1[functions], namely:— 
1[3[(a) formulating the investment policy, establishing standards and procedures for 
investment of any amounts from the P3A Fund, the vi ability gap fund and the 
project development facility, including investment in bonds or other financial 
instruments issued by the Federal Government;] 
 
(b)  Allowing renegotiation, if necessary in respect of qualified projects, of public 
private partnership agreements or contracts to the extent prescribed; 
3[(c) considering the project proposal for a qualified project for purposes of according 
its approval or otherwise with respect to the transaction structure of the project;] 
 
1Subs., added, ins and omitted by Act VI of 2021, ss.7 & 8. 
2Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s.7. (The word “Ward” amended by the Act VI of 2021, s. 8, but in the original text of sub -sect. (2) such 
word is not found.) 
3Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s.8, which was previously Subs. by Act VI of 2021 s.9. 
 
 
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(d) Reviewing and strengthening the institutional and regulatory framework for the 
effective i mplementation and operation of the public priv ate partnership 
arrangements by implementing agencies; 
(e)      Approving the yearly budget of the Authority; 
(f)       Establishing viability gap fund to perform such functions as may be prescribed;  
(g)    Establishing project development facility to perform such functions as are   
prescribed; 
(h) Approving funding for support provided through the project development facility 
for qualified projects in the manner prescribed; and 
(i) subject to applicable laws, and as may be prescribed, establishing such other 
funds, trusts, schemes, companies or facilities for the purpose of carrying out the 
mandate under this Act.] 
1[9. Dis qualification to become a member and conflict.— (1) The disqu alifications of 
certain persons to become or hold office in any corporate entity und er the provisions  of the 
Companies Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017) shall, ipso facto, apply to the members of  the Board. In 
addition, a person shall be disqualified from acting as a member of the Board, if he— 
 
(a)      has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member of the Board; 
 
(b)      has engaged in gross misconduct; 
 
(c)      has been involved in corruption or malpractices; 
 
(d)      receives any illegal gratification from a private party; or 
 
(e)      fails to meet any other criteria as may be prescribed. 
 
(2) To the extent that any member of the Board has any interest, either monetary or otherwise, 
directly or indirectly, in any private party that is tendering for a project or that is involved in the 
process in any way for a qualified project, such member of the Board shall, to the extent of that 
project, not be eligible to participate in the following, namely: — 
 
(a)      any decision making of the Board; 
 
(b)      in any discussions of the Authority or the Board; or 
 
(c)  other relevant matters of the Authority, the Board and the relevant implementing 
agency. 
9A.   A ccounts and audit.— (1) The Authority shall prepare its own budget in respect of 
each fin ancial year and s hall maintain complete and accurate b ooks of accounts of i ts actual 
expenses in the prescribed manner. 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. by the Act No. VI of 2021, s. 10 
 
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(2) The management, operation and maintenance of the accounts of the Authority shall be 
done by such officers of the Authority and in such manner as may be prescribed. The accounts of the 
Authority shall be maintained in such forms as may be prescribed and shall be consistent with the 
requirements of the applicable provisions of the Constitution and laws for the time being in force. 
(3) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited in the manner prescribed in accordance 
with the provisions of the (constitution and the laws in that behalf for the time being in force. 
Part II 
 
P3A Fund, Viability Gap Fund and Project Development Facility] 
10. 1[P3A F u n d]. — (1) There is  hereby established a 1[non-lapsable] fund 1[through 
upfront grant-in-aid in the amount to be recommended by the Board], to be called the 1[P3A Fund] 
which shall vest in the Authority and shall be utilized by the Authority 1[****] in connection with its 
functions under this Act. 
(2) The 1[P3A fund] shall comprise of the following, namely:— 
(a) such sum as the Federal Government may, from time to time, allocate to it in the 
annual budget; 
(b)      1[grants-in-aid] from the Federal Government; 
(c)      donations and grants from the international donor agencies; 
(d)      income from 1[*] investment; 
(e)      fees; and 
(f)       any 1[other] sources 1[as may be prescribed from time to time]. 
(3) The management, operation and maintenance of the 1[P3A Fund] shall be done 
by 1[such officers of the Authority and in such manner as may be prescribed]. 
(4)  1[*        *  *  *  *  *  *] 
1[11.Viability gap fund.— (1) There shall be established a non-lapsable fund throu gh 
upfront grant-in-aid vested in the Authority known  as the “viability  gap  fun d” whi ch shall be   
managed, controlled and administered by the Authority in the prescribed manner. 
(2) The viability gap fund shall be established by an amount specified by the Board and the 
fund may be replenished from time to time in the prescribed manner. 
(3) The viability gap fund shall be utilized, inter alia, to provide support to those qualified 
projects for which a feasibility study has found them to be economically or socially justified but not 
financially viable.] 
 
 
1Subs., ins. & Omitted by Act VI of 2021, ss. 11 & 12. 
 
Page 14 of 20 
 
1[12. Project development facility.—(1) There shall be established a non-lapsable facility 
through upfront grant-in-aid vested in the Authority known as the “project development f acility” 
which shall be managed, controlled and administered by the Authority in the prescribed manner. 
(2) The project development facility shall be a pool of funds,  including contributions from 
international donor agencies, which shall be ut ilized, inter alia, to support the p reparation of any 
proposals for qualified projects. 
(3) The project development fund shall be established by an amount specified by the Board 
and the fund may be replenished from time to time in the prescribed manner.] 
1[CHAPTER III 
 
 
Part I 
 
Risk Management Unit 
 
12A. Risk management Unit. —(1) There shall be established a risk management unit which 
shall be managed, controlled and administered by the Finance Division of the Federal Government 
2[***]. 
(2) The risk management unit shall be responsible for fiscal oversight and for evaluation of 
fiscal and contingent liability exposure for all qualified projects. The evaluation shall be required to 
be undertaken as may be determined by Finance Division in consultation with the Authority. 
(3) In respect of any project that is not a qualified project, each implementing agency shall 
provide the risk management unit all such information about such project as may be prescribed by 
the Authority in consultation with the Finance Division. 
 
“PART II 
 
Implementing Agencies] 
13. 1[Responsibility] of an implementing agency.—(1) The responsibilities of the 
1[implementing agency] in relation to the planning, development, procurement, implementation, 
execution and monitoring of a 1[qualified project] shall be such as may be prescribed 1[by rules or 
regulations under this Act]. 
1[(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1) in respect of qualified projects, 
the implementing agency shall, inter alia, for the purpose of this Act,— 
(a) identify, conceptualize and develop the project and, in case of a project that is 
not a qualified project, appraise the same; 
 
(b)      undertake or cause to be undertaken a feasibility study for a project; 
 
(c) develop and issue or cause to be developed and issued a request for proposal 
including draft of the public private partnership agreement; 
 
 
 
1Subs. & Ins. by Act VI of 2021, ss.13-15. 
2Omitted by Act XVIII of 2022, s.9. 
 
Page 15 of 20 
 
(d) if deemed necessary or appropriate by the implementing agency, develop and 
submit to the Authority a project concept proposal for the P3WP’s approval or 
otherwise, prior to developing and submitting the project qualification proposal for 
approval to the Authority, provided, that it shall not be a requirement to submit a 
project concept proposal before submitting the project qualification proposal for 
approval to the Authority; 
(e) solicit approval for a project and its related project qualification proposal from 
P3WP, in the manner prescribed and, subsequent to receipt of approval, undertake 
the required steps in accordance with  chapter III of th is Act and the rul es and 
regulations made thereunder; 
(f)  subject to requisite approvals, procure and conduct competitive bidding for a 
project in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations 
made hereunder; 
 
(g) monitor and implement the project in accordance with the publ ic private 
partnership agreement; and 
 
(h) provide such information to the authority as may be prescribed from time to 
time in respect of projects of the implementing agency, whether qualified or not 
qualified.] 
 
(3) 1[*   *  *  *  *  *  *] 
 
 (4) 1[*  *  *  *  *  *  *] 
 
PART III 
 
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (P3) WORKING PARTY (P3WP) 
 
13A. P3WP.— (1) There shall be established a ‘Public Private Partnership Working Party’ to 
be called the “P3WP” comprising such members as may be prescribed by rules under this Act. 
(2) The quorum requirements, manner of conduct of the P3WP meetings and the eligibility 
requirements to be a member of the P3WP shall be, in each case, as are prescribed f rom time to 
time. 
 
(3) The P3WP shall be responsible for— 
 
(a)   granting approval  of the project  concept  proposal  submitted  to it by the 
Authority; 
1[(b)  considering the project qualification proposal for a qualified project for 
purposes of according its approval or otherwise with respect to the 
transaction structure of the project;] 
(c)      performing such other functions as may be prescribed from time to time. 
 
 
1Omitted & Subs. by Act XVIII of 2022, s.10 & 11.    
 
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(4) Subject to the rules and regulations prescribed under this Act, the P3WP m ay, for 
carrying out its functions, constitute such committees, from time to time and delegate its powers, as 
may be considered appropriate. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
Approvals and Process Flow For Qualified Projects] 
 
1[14. Approval of qualified projects and related matters.—(1) For all qu alified 
projects, subject to the rules and regulations made under this Act, the following approvals shall be 
required prior to the execution of the  public private partnership agreement by the imp lementing 
agency, namely: — 
(a)       the project qualification proposal shall require approval of the P3WP; 
 
 
2[(b)    the project shall require approval of the CDWP;] 
 
(c)      the project proposal shall require approval of the Board; 
 
(d) in the event the qualified project meets certain prescribed criteria, the project 
proposal shall also require approval of ECNEC; and 
 
(e)      any other approvals as may be prescribed from time to time 2[:] 
2[Provided that the evaluation by the risk management unit  pursuant to sub -section (2) of 
section 12A shall be provided as part of the approvals process in the manner prescribed.] 
2[(1A) For the avoidance of doubt , where, prior to the commencement of the Public Private 
Partnership Authority (Amendment) Act, 2022, any approvals had been granted with respect to any 
project qualification proposals and project proposals, such approvals shall continue to be in force 
unless amended withdrawn or rescinded by an authority competent to do so under this Act.] 
(2) During any  stage  of  the  process  leading  to  the  execution  of  the  public  private 
partnership agreement, in the event there is a deviation from any of the terms of the proposals or 
documents approved in terms of sub-section (1) or from any conditions that the approving entity 
may have placed in respect of the qualified project, the implementing agency shall be required to re-
obtain such approvals as may be prescribed. 
(3) The process flow for approvals, bidding and contract award shall be as may be 
prescribed from time to time,] 
2[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, where prior to the commencement of 
the Public Private Partnership Authority (Amendment) Act, 2021 (VI of 2021), the Board has 
approved a project or proposal with regard to a project, any subsequent process with respect to the 
approval of such project or proposal thereof shall continue to be dealt with as if the Public Private 
Partnership Authority (Amendment) Act, 2021 (VI of 2021) was not in force.] 
 
1[CHAPTER V 
 
Legal and Contractual Framework 
 
14A. Private sector participation.—(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained 
in any other laws for the time being in force, the implementing agencies shall be authorized to seek 
participation from the private sector in appropriate projects in accordance with this Act. 
 
1Subs. by Act VI of 2021, ss. 16 & 17. 
2
Subs., Added & Ins. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s.12.   
 
Page 17 of 20 
 
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder, the 
implementing agencies shall be fully empowered to enter into public private partnership agreements 
and arrangements with private parties under mutually agreed terms and conditions in one or several 
projects and may provide project support to private parties on such conditions as deemed mutually fit 
for the purposes of such projects. 
(3) The implementing agencies shall be competent to pay any fees for services performed 
by private parties under duly authorized public private partnership agreements. 
(4) A private party m ay su bmit a proposal for a project on an unsolicited basis to the  
Authority or an implementing agency in  the manner meeting such requirements as pr escribed, 
which shall be subject to the procurement procedures prescribed from time to time.] 
15. Contents of public private partnership agreements.—(l) The contents of a publ ic 
private partnership agreement 1[relating to projects] shall be such as may be prescribed. 
1[(2) Unless otherwise provided in the public private partnership agreement, every 
agreement sh all  be  governed,  construed  and  interpreted  in  accordance  with  the laws  of 
Pakistan.] 
(3) 1[*        *           *           *           *         *         *] 
16. Contractual relationship.—(l) For the purposes of implementation of the 
1[qualified] project,1[unless otherwise approved by the Board,] the private party s hall, with or 
without the participation of the implementing agency, incorporate a company as 1[a] special purpose 
vehicle to  un dertake the  1[qualified]  project  1[in  accordance  with  the  rules  and regulations 
prescribed under this Act]. 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision and subject to the decision 
of the Board, the implementing agency and private party may enter into any contractual relationship 
that is capable of providing value for money and affordability for the implementing agency and the 
users of the 1[qualified project]. 
1[(3) Subject to laws applicable to the implementing agency, the implementing agency and a 
private party may, in respect of projects that are not qualified projects, enter into any contractual 
relationship that is capable of providing value for money and affordability for the i mplementing 
agency and the users of the project.] 
17. Protection of interests.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the 
time being in force and subject to compliance with the provisions of this Act and the rules 1[and 
regulations] made there under, 1[the] implementing agency may, in respect of a project to which this 
Act applies, — 
 
(a) transfer an interest, or part of an interest, of the implementing agency in any 
present or future assets comprised in the project to the private party: 
 
Provided that title of 1[any] immovable property of an implementing 
agency shall not be transferred to the private party; 
 
 
1Subs., Omitted, Ins. & Added by Act VI of 2021, ss.18-20.
 
Page 18 of 20 
 
(b) transfer to the private party the right to receive directly revenues or receivables of 
the project during the subsistence of public private partnership agreement 1[and 
as provided in the said agreement]; 
(c) permit the private party to create security interests over or in respect of the 
present or future assets created by it, revenues, or receivables, comprised in or 
expected, in connection with the 1[project] in favour of any lender providing 
loans for the project 1[as provided in the public private partnership agreement]; 
1[and] 
(d) enter into agreements with lend ers to the p roject 2[in accordance with applicable 
law]1[.]1[*] 
(e)       1[*  *    *  *  *  *    *] 
1[18. Settlement of disputes.—(1) All disputes arising between an implementing agency and 
a private party shall be decided in accordance with the terms and conditions of t he public private 
partnership agreement: 
Provided that the Federal Government may, subject to such conditions as it may deem 
appropriate to p rescribe, including with r espect to any time li mit, r equire that the p rivate party 
submit its claim before the relevant domestic courts or administrative bodies in order to exhaust 
domestic remedies before seeking recourse to international arbitration: 
Provided further that the aforesaid requirement shall be applicable only to public 
private p artnership agreements executed after the Federal Government has prescribed the 
requirement. 
(2) Dispute may also be referred to the Authority to facilitate their resolution and settlement 
by mediation. Recourse to such mediation be governed by prescribed rules or regulations. 
(3) Neither the private or its agents, its contractor or sub-contractors, shall stop,  impede, 
suspend, either in whole or in part, or cause the suspension of or otherwise delay the provision of, 
the service to the users on account of pendency of any dispute under public private p artnership 
agreement.] 
1[CHAPTER VI] 
 
Public Private Partnership Project Procurement 
3[19. Negotiation of the agreement.—The implementing agency shall, after obtaining  
applicable approvals and subject to terms and conditions of such approvals, invite the su ccessful 
private party bidder for negotiation of the public private partnership agreement.] 
1[20. Negotiated procurement of project.—Subject to the rules and regulations prescribed 
under this Act, an implementing agency may enter into a negotiated procurement of a project in case 
the Federal Government authorizes such an exception, for reasons to be recorded in w riting, in the 
public interest.] 
 
 
1Ins., Subs. and Omitted by Act VI of 2021, ss. 20-23. 
2Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s. 13 which was previously Ins. by Act VI of 2021 s.20. 
3Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s. 14 which was previously Subs. by Act VI of 2021 s.22. 
 
Page 19 of 20 
 
21. Vesting of project.—(1) Subject to the public private partnership agreement, the project 
along with all the movable and immovable properties 1[the], project’s physical assets, licenses, 
goodwill, tr ademarks, p atents, leases, all rights including intellectual p roperty ri ghts and interests 
associated with the project shall vest in the private party 1[or the implementing agency] during the 
tenure of the public private partnership agreement 1[as provided for in the said agreement]: 
 
Provided 1[*] that 1[in respect of a qualified project] the private party shall not create any 
lien, charge or encumbrance, in favor of the  lenders, ov er the  immovable properties of the 
implementing agency as collateral , except with the prior 1[consent and] approval of the 
1[implementing agency and the] Board 1[or except as may have been approved as part of the 
project proposal]: 
 
Provided further that after 1[the] expiry of the public private partnership agreement all the 
properties as aforesaid shall stand tr ansferred, wit hout a ny lien, charge or encumbrance, to the 
implementing agency 1[or the private party] in accordance with the provisions of the public private 
partnership agreement. 
 
(2) 1[*   *    *    *   *    *           *] 
 
1[CHAPTER VII] 
 
Miscellaneous Provisions 
22. No compensation for risks not covered.—The Federal Government 1[the Authority, the 
Board] or the implementing agency shall not be held liable for any claim of the private party for a 
risk, which is not specified in the public private partnership agreement. 
23. Compensation and recovery of costs, dues and fees.—Notwithstanding anything 
contained in public private partnership agreement or in any other law for the time being in force, the 
Federal Government or the implementing agency may recover 1[any sums] due from a private party 
1[******] as arrears of land revenue under the provisions of the West Pakistan Land Revenue Act, 
1967 (W. P. Act No. XVII of 1967). 
24. Transparency and public disclosure.—The public private partnership agreement shall 
be a public document. Any interested person shall be entitled to obtain a copy of it in accordance with 
the applicable laws. 
1[25. Power to make rules.—The Federal Government may, by notification in the Gazette 
and with the recommendation of the Board, make rules for carrying out the purposes of, this Act. 
 
 2[25A. Power to make regulations.—The Board may, by notification in the offic ial 
Gazette, make regulations for  carrying out purposes of this Act which shall not be inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act and, if prescribed, any rules made thereunder .]] 
 
 26. Indemnity.—Without prejudice to the obligations incurred by an implementing agency 
under a public private partnership agreement, no 1[suits], prosecution or other legal pro ceedings   
shall lie against  the Federal Government, the Board, the  Authority or any of its  officers acting 
for and on its behalf in furtherance of the functions of the Authority or Board, as the case may be, 
which is in good faith done or 1[*] to be done under this Act or rules 1[or re gulations] made 
thereunder. 
 
 
 
1Ins., Omitted and subs. by Act VI of 2021, ss. 24-28. 
2Subs. by Act No. XVIII of 2022, s. 15, which was previously Subs. by Act VI of 2021 s.27. 
 
 
Page 20 of 20 
 
27. Removal of difficulties.—If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision of this 
Act, the Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make such provisions as may 
appear to it to be necessary for the purpose of removing such difficulty. 
28. Annual Report.—Within one hundred and twenty days from the end of each financial 
year, the Authority shall cause a report to be prepared on its activities including public priv ate 
partnership agreements 1[for qu alified projects], progress on 1[qualified] projects, ut ilization of 
funds under this Act during that financial year and shall be laid before the Parliament. 
1[29. Overriding effect.—Except as provided in this Act, the provisions of this Act and the 
rules and re gulations m ade hereunder sh all have effect 2[***] notwithstanding anything to the 
contrary contained in any other law, including but not limited to the Public Procurement Regulatory 
Authority Act, 2002 (XXII of 2002) and the rules and regulations made 2[thereunder].] 
1[30. Authority to be exempted from taxation.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained 
in any other law, for a period of five years starting from the commencement of the Public Private 
Partnership Authority (Amendment) Act, 2021, the Authority shall be exempted from income tax. 
(2) The Federal Government may, by not ification in the Official Gazette, extend the 
exemption mentioned in sub-section (1) to such extent and on such terms and conditions as it may 
deem appropriate.] 
2[31. Hiring of consultants and experts .— Notwithstanding anything contained in the 
Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 20 02 (XXII of 2002), any rules and 
regulations made thereunder or any similar laws, the Board may, by regulations, prescribe the 
manner, method and procedures for— 
(a)  the hiring  of transaction advisers by implementing agencies in connection with 
public private partnership projects or certain classes there of, and such prescribed 
conditions, once notified, shall govern the hiring of consultants by implementing 
agencies for providing such transactional advisory services to the extent 
prescribed therein, including with respect to the direct contracting of inte rnational 
financial institutions as transaction advisers for certain public private partnership 
projects or classes of public private partnership projects, to the extent and on such 
terms and conditions as prescribed therein; and 
(b) the hiring of internat ional and local consultants and experts by the Authority, and 
such prescribed conditions, once notified, shall exclusively govern the hiring of 
consultants and experts by the Authority. 
 32. Prior consent of the Board with respect to certain legal actions .— Notwithstanding 
anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no legal action shall be initiated against 
any member, officer or official by any government agency for acts of omission or commission in his 
official capacity, pertaining to this  Act, or the rules or regulation  made thereunder, unless the said 
agency obtains prior consent of the Board by an intimation in writing to the Board along -with 
supporting evidence to the charges. The Board shall constitute an inquiry committee for the purp ose, 
which shall determine whether there is prima facie cause for the legal action on the charges. The 
committee shall give its findings and recommendations to the Board and the decision of the Board on 
the matter, whether to allow the proposal legal action or not shall be deemed to final.] 
 
1Ins. & added by Act VI of 2021, ss. 29 to 31. 
2Omitted, Ins. and added by Act No. XVIII of 2022, ss. 16-17.