SSGC 5% SHARES PUBLIC OFFERING FROM FEBRUARY 9 TO 11 - PC HOLDS ROAD SHOW AT LAHORE

Islamabad, January 19, 2004

The subscription for the first secondary Public Offering of 5 % SSGC shares (33.55 million) will commence from February 9, 2004 and will close on February 11, 2004. Mr. Ahmad Waqar Secretary Privatisation Commission announced this during a presentation to the investors regarding the SSGC shares Road Show held jointly under the auspices of
Privatisation Commission and Lead Manager Consortium members AMZ Securities (Pvt) Ltd, Meezan Bank Limited and Yousaf Adil Saleem & Company here today.

Mr. Ahmad Waqar while addressing the presentation said that after NBP and OGDCL, SSGC was another opportunity for the general public to reap the benefits of privatization from this investment instrument. This offer would significantly increase the float of SSGC shares in the Stock Market and bring the stock among the highly traded ones, he hoped.

He said that the privatisation was one of the key elements of the economic reform agenda of the government being implemented through two pronged strategy i.e. through strategic sale and the divestment of Government shares in the public sector entities through the Stock Market. The objective of divestment through capital market was to widen, deepen and broaden the smaller share holders and to strengthen the Stock Market, he added. The Government of Pakistan had held 70.43 % shares of SSGCL while 29.57 % shares are with the general public and institutions, he said.

He further stated that preference would be given to the smaller applicants for the minimum lot of 1000 shares for the Public Offering (PO) of 5 % shares (33.56 million shares) of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) in order to increase the investor base and by exercising a green shoe option of additional 5 % shares in case of over subscription, all being offered at a price of Rs. 26/ = per share including a premium of Rs. 16/= would generate the expected total proceeds for 10 % shares to the tune of Rs. 1.74 billion. Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) a company is listed on the Stock Market since 1956.

He informed that the three Stock Exchanges of the country would process this secondary offering and there would be 14 banks to this offer while the subscription forms to this offer could be obtained from the branches of the respective banks, stock exchanges or they could be down load from the PC and Lead Manager Web sites: www.privatisation.gov.pk and www.amzsec.com

Total proceeds during the past one year through offering of GoP shares in POL, ARL, DG Khan Cement, NBP, OGDCL and the Strategic sale of Habib Bank Limited had touched the figure of about Rs. 40 billion, he said and added that in the coming months public offering of PIA shares and Initial Public Offering of Kot Adu Power Company (KAPCO) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited.

Replying to a question regarding the unbundling of SSGC, he said that the studies were underway ever since 2000 and no actual unbundling was expected for the next 2-3 years, however, any such decision, if taken, would aim to add value to the company.

Earlier, the MD SSGC Munawar Baseer and the Lead Managers to the transaction gave an over view of the company's resources, financial performance, and its future 5 year development & expansion plans estimated at Rs. 34.5 billion.

It was the second Road Show after Karachi, which was largely participated. The general public and the investors were invited to participate in this Show to obtain necessary information regarding the Public Offering of SSGC.