The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has called on the government to launch a comprehensive plan to unlock the economic value of dormant state assets, particularly vast stretches of government-owned land that have remained unused for decades. Business leaders argue that bringing these assets into productive use through public-private partnerships (PPPs) could become a major source of investment, employment, and public revenue.
Millions of Acres Idle, Railways Land Encroached
PIAF office bearers stated that millions of acres of public land across Pakistan remain idle, while more than 12,400 acres of Pakistan Railways' land is under illegal occupation. They highlighted weak asset management and called for stronger oversight, transparent policies, and strict legal action to recover encroached land.
"The government should immediately bring decades-old unused public land, worth trillions of rupees, into productive use through public-private partnerships. Such an initiative can increase national revenue, attract investment and create thousands of employment opportunities while converting inactive public assets into a permanent source of income for the economy," they said.
Proposed Development and Revenue Fund
PIAF proposed that valuable urban land owned by Pakistan Railways and other government institutions should be developed into commercial centres, business districts, IT parks, logistics hubs, hotels, shopping malls, and mixed-use projects. It also recommended introducing housing schemes for middle- and low-income groups on suitable sites, addressing both economic and urban planning challenges.
The association further suggested that revenue generated through these projects should be deposited into a dedicated national fund to finance infrastructure projects, public welfare programmes, and eventually contribute towards reducing the country's external debt burden. They also called for a comprehensive digital inventory of all unused government land across federal and provincial institutions, recommending a complete audit before offering assets to investors through transparent auctions or long-term lease agreements under the PPP model.
Expert View: Transparency and Governance Key
Urban real estate development expert Waseem Tariq Malik commented on the proposal, stating that effective land monetisation requires strong governance rather than simply offering land to investors. "Public-private partnerships can unlock significant economic value from idle government land, but transparency, competitive bidding and independent oversight are essential. Investors need policy certainty, while the public must be assured that national assets are being developed in a fair and accountable manner," Malik said.
Historical Context and Challenges
Pakistan Railways has long acknowledged that commercial utilisation of its land is an important source of non-fare revenue. Successive governments have announced plans to lease railway land for commercial projects, logistics facilities, and other developments. However, implementation has remained slow due to legal disputes, encroachments, administrative hurdles, and delays in policy execution.
International Practice and Economic Context
Economic experts say the proposal is consistent with international practices where governments monetise underutilised public assets without relinquishing ownership. Instead of outright sales, many countries lease land to private investors under long-term concession agreements, generating recurring income while encouraging private investment in commercial infrastructure.
The proposal comes at a time when Pakistan is seeking to expand investment, strengthen public finances, and improve infrastructure while maintaining fiscal discipline under ongoing economic reforms. Improving the management of state-owned assets could provide an additional revenue stream without increasing the tax burden, although success will depend on institutional reforms, legal clarity, and transparent execution.
