US DELEGATION EXPRESSES KEEN INTEREST IN OIL & GAS PRIVATISATION
 

Islamabad, April 2, 2002

A high level five member US Government/Business delegation led by Senator Billy A. Mickle, Majority Leader of the Oklahoma State Senate, currently on an official visit to Pakistan, held a meeting with Mr. Altaf M. Saleem, the Federal Minister for Privatisation, and his senior staff here today. The delegation discussed privatisation opportunities, including the economic situation and the planned privatisation of State entities. Senator Mickle remarked that Pakistan's Privatisation Programme was in full swing with regulatory framework well in place providing an open, transparent and level playing field for investors. He looks forward to US participation in the Privatisation Programme and commented that US investors have a great deal of interest in Pakistan's oil & gas sector.

Following a briefing about the Privatisation Programme and policy, Minister Saleem stressed the Government's firm commitment towards privatisation and highlighted measures taken by the Administration to improve the enabling environment. He believes that there exist strong synergistic and lucrative opportunities for US investors, especially in the oil & gas, power and telecommunications sectors.