MOEEN QURESHI ASSURES FULL SUPPORT TO HAFEEZ SHAIKH
FOR INVESTMENT & PRIVATISATION PROGRAM

Islamabad, August 11, 2003

Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh held a meeting with the former Caretaker Prime Minister Mr. Moeen Afzal and discussed matters pertaining to investment and privatisation
opportunities, policies and programmes here today.

The former Prime Minister Mr. Moeen Qureshi while lauding the Government's economic development, investment and privatisation policies said that he was deeply impressed of the Governments economic agenda, which had tremendous attraction potential for the foreign as well as domestic investors. He furtherstated that the steps initiated during his interim period had been improved a lot and the Government had successfully taken effective measures ahead in the right direction, which would ensure better positiveresults.

He assured the Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh that he would give full support to the Government's endeavor in the uplift of the economy of Pakistan. We were in the process of finalizing and establishing Pakistan's thelargest investment bank, details of which would be made known within next two months, he disclosed.

Earlier, the Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh apprised the former caretaker PM regarding the Government's efforts for attracting the investors in all sectors and the pace of economic and privatisation activity in the country. He expressed his gratitude for maximum support from his group in the privatisation & investment activity the country. He further hoped that Mr. Moeen Qureshi's efforts would devise a mechanism for being a bridge between the investors and the Government. His support was evident from the fact that he had brought in a quality player for the privatisation of Habib Bank Limited, the second largest commercial bank of the country, he added.

During the discussion Dr. Hafeez Shaikh and Mr. Moeen Qureshi agreed to develop various more projects in financial and other sectors for expanding the privatisation and investment opportunities.