PC RECEIVES SEVEN EOIS FOR KAPCO LEAD MANAGER

Islamabad, May 20, 2004

The Privatisation Commission (PC) has received seven Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from its panel of Lead Managers for the IPO of Kot Addu Power Company Limited ('KAPCO').

In view of the response received for the share offerings of OGDCL and SSGC, the government has decided to list the shares of ('KAPCO') at the Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad Stock Exchanges and offer 10% shares to the general public with additional 10% shares green shoe option in case of over subscription.

KAPCO is a large IPP with a power generation capacity of 1600 MW. KAPCO was privatized in 1996 and the government transferred management control to M/s. International Power plc along with 26% shares. Subsequently, 10% additional shares were also divested to the new owners. Total proceeds of Rs.9 billion were realized by the government in this divestment and the government now holds 64% of KAPCO's total 880 million issued shares.

KAPCO is a highly profitable company with a good operational record. If the market response to the recent share offerings of OGDCL, SSGC and Bank Alfalah gives any indication, an offer of shares of a company like KAPCO would most likely receive a heavy response from the general investors. The listing of KAPCO would increase market capitalization significantly and would bring a worthwhile addition, rather a leader, to the power sector companies listed on the stock exchanges. The large quantity of shares offered would also add to the liquid share float in the market.

EOIs have been received from Arif Habib Securities Limited, BMA Capital Management Limited, Elixir Securities Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, First Capital Equities Limited, Global Securities Pakistan Limited, KASB Securities (Pvt) Limited and Orix Investment Bank Pakistan Limited.

The Lead Manager for the transaction would be selected out of the seven interested parties through a competitive and transparent process consisting of technical and financial pre-qualification. The Lead Manager would be responsible for bringing the transaction to a successful conclusion within the specified timeframe. PC is also in the process of secondary Public Offering of PIA and Initial Public Offering of PPL shares.