SUBSCRIPTION FOR PPL SHARES TO END TOMORROW-NO EXTENTION IN SUBSCRIPTION DATE

Islamabad, July 21, 2004

The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) shares, which was opened on Monday July 19,2004 will enter the fourth and final day of subscription on July 22, 2004 (Thursday) during banking hours. Tomorrow being the last day for receiving the applications is expected to witness historic response. No extension in subscription date will be made. PPL shares are offered at the Government's offer price of Rs.55/= per share. The price for PPL IPO is inclusive of the transfer fee and thus no additional transfer fee would be charged to the subscribers.

The third day of PPL shares subscription also received enthusiastic and overwhelming response from the general public and long queues were witnessed out side the branches of the bankers to the offer in all the major cities and the rural areas of the country.

The government has approved the divestment of PPL shares through an Offer for Sale of 10% (68.58 million) of the company's issued shares to the general public with a green shoe option of additional 5% shares in case of over subscription. Applications are being invited in multiples of 500 shares. In line with the government's objective of 'Privatisation for the People', preference in allocation will be given to the smallest applicants for 500 shares for a total investment of Rs.27, 500/=. Whereas this will directly benefit the small investors it will also help in broadening the shareholder base and lend additional strength to the market. The listing of PPL will also add significantly to market capitalization. It is expected that PPL would become one of the highly traded stocks in the stock markets.

PPL is the fifth company after NBP, OGDCL, SSGC and PIAC whose shares are offered to the general public through the Capital Market. It is one of the large companies in the oil & gas exploration and production sector and is the owner of the Sui Gas fields.

PC held road shows prior to the opening of the PPL shares subscription, in all the major cities of the country including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar to inform the general public and the investors regarding the procedure to apply, the worth of PPL and the risks involved. Lead Manger to the transaction is Elixir Securities Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd.