BIDDING FOR SALE OF FALETTI'S HOTEL LAHORE IN 3RD WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2004

Islamabad, January 19, 2004

Privatisation Commission will hold the bidding among the prospective bidders for the sale of Faletti's Hotel, Lahore on 'as is where is' basis during the third week of February 2004.

This was decided in the second round of the pre-bid conference held here today under the chairmanship of Mr. Ahmad Waqar Secretary Privatisation Commission.

Sixteen parties who had submitted EOIs were invited to attend the conference for better understanding of the transaction and the bidding process and to respond to the queries of the prospective bidders regarding the sale. The second round was participated by 12 parties while the first Round of pre-bid conference was held at Islamabad on January 12, 2004, which was participated by 14 parties.

The parties include Export International, Karachi, Popular Contracting, Sialkot, Afzal & Co, Peshawar, Mohammad Khalid Randhawa, Islamabad, Associated Builders (Pvt) Limited, (Hashoo Group), Karachi, Hashwani Hotels Ltd, Islamabad, Shahid Gul & company, Karachi, Haji Saifullah & Group, Islamabad, Bahria Town (Pvt) Limited, Rawalpindi, Tourism Promotion Services (Pakistan) Limited, Karachi, TasHeel Group of Saudi Arabia, Hilton Millineum Group, USA, AMZ Securtites (Pvt) Limited, Karachi, Emirates Global Investment Limited, Sharjah, UAE, Al-Hamra Trading Co, Karachi and LYNX Trading SDN, BHD.

Briefing the prospective investors regarding the bidding process Mr. Ahmad Waqar informed that in the first round sealed bids would be opened and the first three top offers would be considered for final open bidding round declaring the highest offer among them as the floor price to proceed further for competitive bidding. All liabilities prior to handing over the hotel to the successful bidder would be the responsibility of the government, he  added.

He said that the bidding result would be submitted before the Privatisation Commission Board for its recommendations for approval of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP).

Earlier, the General Manager Faletti's Hotel Mr. Iftikhar Hussain Satti gave a detailed presentation to the investors and informed that the hotel was constructed in 1880. This prime property was ideally located in the business district, walking distance from commercial centers, the Mall, Railway and airport offices, the landmark building of the Assembly chambers, the national museum, botanical gardens, the zoo etc, he said.

He informed that approximately total area of the premises was 68 kanals 11 marla 11 sq. ft. It had 44 large residential rooms, banquet hall, restaurant and facilities like tourist office, post office and travel and tour operating agencies, he told.

The prospective bidders who had submitted EOI and participated in the pre-bid conference visited he hotel. The Secretary M/O Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs Mr. Khalid Latif, MD, PTDC Malik Muhammad Habib Khan, representative of Lahore Development Authority and senior  officials of PC were present during the meeting who responded to various questions of the bidders. Another meeting among the bidders will be held at Islamabad one week prior to the bidding.