CCOP APPROVES DIVESTMENT OF ADDITIONAL 3.2 % SHARES OF NBP AND IPO OF 2.5 % SHARES OF OGDCL THROUGH CAPITAL MARKET

Islamabad, SEPTEMBER 27, 2003

The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) approved the initial public offering (IPO) of 2.5 % shares of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) with a provision of Green Shoe option for additional 2.5 % shares in multiples of 1000 shares and divestment of additional 3.2 % shares of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in multiples of 500 shares through Stock Market in October 2003. Preference would be given to applicants for the minimum lot of 1000 shares of OGDCL and 500 shares for NBP. This was decided in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Finance Mr. Shaukat Aziz here today.

The CCOP directed the Ministries / Divisions to extend maximum cooperation to the Privatisation Commission for the success of the Privatisation Program.

The CCOP further directed the entities on the Privatisation list should not take any action, which jeopardize the Privatisation process.

The Federal Ministers for Privatisation & Investment Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and the representatives of Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Board of Investment (BOI), Privatisation Commission (PC) and relevant Ministries also attended the meeting.