PC BOARD FINALISES OCTOBER SCHEDULE

Islamabad, SEPTEMBER 26, 2003

The Privatisation Commission has finalized the Privatisation schedule for October 2003 in its Board meeting, which held under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment here today.

Regarding the Power sector transactions the meeting decided to advertise Karachi Electric Supply Company in view of the improved investment climate and market appetite in the transaction. The Data Room for the due diligence of GENCO-1 Jamshoro Power Company (JPC) had been opened from September 15, 2003 and the parties would complete this process by November 15, 2003 i.e. within a period of two months, while Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) was passing through the phase of finalisation of the bidding documents, the meeting was informed.

The PC Board was also informed that the Data Room for the due diligence of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) by the prospective bidders had been opened and six parties had been allowed to enter the data room. The PC Board approved the launching of Public Offering (PO) of additional 3.2 % shares in National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) from October 8 to 10, 2003 and the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 2.5 % shares of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL). It was decided to give preference to the applicants with smaller denominations in order to deepen and broaden

The Board directed that the privatisation process of all ongoing transactions should be completed on fast track basis without compromising the transparency.

The Board constituted a committee comprising of the representatives of
Privatisation Commission, Finance Division, Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan, National Investment Trust and National Bank of Pakistan (Trustee) for facilitating its privatisation. Besides PC Board members, the senior officials of Ministries of Finance, Petroleum & Natural Resources, Industries & Production, State Bank of Pakistan, SECP and PC attended the meeting.