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Opening up of Pakistan's Telecom market to the world has increased the
teledensity ratio from 3 % to 15 %. Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh Federal Minister
for Privatisation & Investment disclosed it while delivering his inaugural
address on the occasion of 7th annual conference of the South Asia Network of
Economic Research Institutes (SANEI) organized by Pakistan Institute of
Development Economics here today.
He said that infrastructure issues were connected to the role of the
government; however, the government's role should be restricted to formulate
policies. Acknowledging the government role in the economy, the Minister said
that in South Asia region we lack effective network and governance. It was for
the economists to suggest the focus of the governments discussing, ownership,
finance, regulation and management, he said.
Dr. Hafeez Shaikh further stated that we needed to pool our resources and to
form think tanks to deliberate on proper utilization of public resources and
to improve governance.
Welcoming the delegates Dr. A. R. Kamal Secretary Coordinate SANEI informed
that SANEI headquarter has been shifted from New Delhi to Islamabad and this
conference was the first of its kind in Pakistan. He remarked that inadequate
infrastructure results to slow growth and the conference would focus the
governance and infrastructure issues, which was being participated by
Pakistan, India, Sir Lanka, Nepal and other member states.
In his keynote address Prof. T. N. Sirinivasam stressed upon the need to
enhance economic relations among the member countries on bilateral basis.
Potential growth of each country was under constrains due to insufficient
infrastructure, he said.
Later talking to the representatives of the media Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said
that the talks with Etisalat were on and good progress was being noticed
whereas handing over modalities were also being discussed, which would be
tabled before the Privatisation Commission Board and the Cabinet Committee on
Privatisation (CCOP) for a decision. He termed the privatisation of PTCL a
good signal for Pakistan's economy and replied that a team of Etisalat would
soon visit Pakistan.
He further stated that efforts were being made to complete the privatisation
of PSO, PPL, Pakistan Steel Mills, NITL and some fertilizers plants in the
first quarter of 2006 while EOIs for the privatisation of Sui Northern Gas
Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have been
invited. Under 'Privatisation for the People' program the government was
considering for new public offerings, he added.