HALCROW GROUP UK TO ESTABLISH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE-
HALCROW CHAIRMAN MEETS HAFEEZ SHAIKH

Islamabad, October 2, 2003

Halcrow Group UK is in the process of establishing center of excellence in Pakistan with an extended area of activity for Central Asian States and Middle East. Mr. Tony Allum, Chairman Halcrow Group stated this during a meeting with Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment here today.

Terming the investment climate in Pakistan as most attractive, the Chairman Halcrow Group discussed private sector involvement in infrastructure development with a main focus on transportation and water sectors. The matters pertaining to improving performance, operational responsibilities and various models of privatisation prevalent in the different countries came under discussion.

Dr. Hafeez Shaikh said that the President General Pervez Musharraf's keen interest had given a boost to the economic liberalization, development and establishment of economic free zones like Gawadar. Pakistan was an ideal place for investment in the region with tremendous opportunities with remarkable incentives in various sectors, he added.

Halcrow Group is among the top five multi-disciplinary engineering firm of UK with 60 offices around the world. The Group enjoys reputation for high standards in most markets sectors with special emphasis on restructuring and privatisation, transport planning, water resources. Airport works and tunnels. The Group has made major investment in Pakistan by establishing Halcrow Pakistan Limited, which is one of the three centers for CAD and Structural design assignments for the Group, presently working on Dubai Airport Expansion Project.