ADB MISSION VISITS PRIVATISATION MINISTRY

Islamabad, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003


A high level Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) Mission from Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by Mr. Robert Bestani, Director General PSOD held a meeting with the Secretary Incharge Privatisation Division here today.

During the discussion the PSOD Mission focused to identify and evaluate avenues for facilitating private sector investments in the country and the Privatisation Program.

While briefing the delegation on the Investment and Privatisation opportunities and the measures taken by the Government to facilitate and attract private sector investments, Mr. Ahmad Waqar, Secretary Privatisation Division highlighted the key areas where PSOD and ADB could assist the Government in further strengthening the private sector investment and participation including identification and development of projects for private sector investments, enabling the financial institutions to develop the requisite skills for providing advice to the private sector in different sectors, development of appropriate debt instruments and secondary market in debt securities etc., support to the public-private interface within the Government agencies, and assistance in the form of risk management tools like guarantees, insurance for private sector investors participating in the privatisation process.

The PSOD Mission appreciated the Government's efforts and initiatives for private sector participation in the different sectors of the economy and offered ADB's assistance and cooperation in this regard. The ADB Mission during their visits to Karachi and Lahore will meet other Government agencies at the Federal and Provincial levels, business groups and banks.

The Mission is also holding seminars at Karachi and Lahore to brief private sector groups in Pakistan on ADB's private sector operations.

Mr. M. Ali Khan, Country Representative of ADB in Pakistan and other senior officials of ADB accompanied the Mission. Senior officials of Privatisation Commission and Board of Investment also attended the meeting.