PC BOARD PREQUALIFIES PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS FOR PAFL MORE IPOs TO COME IN MARKET FOR COMMON MAN

Lahore, December 29, 2005

Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment chaired a meeting of the members of Privatisation Commission Board here today.

PC Board pre-qualified the potential bidders for the privatisation of Pak-American Fertilizers Limited (PAFL) and recommended to the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) for the inclusion of Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Pak-Arab Refinery Limited (PARL) in the Privatisation  Program, under the slogan of 'Privatisation for the People'. The Board also formulated its recommendations for the divestment of GoP shares of State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) through Public Offering. PC has so far offered GoP shares of OGDCL, PPL, NBP, SSGC, PIAC, UBL, KAPCO and other entities to the common man through public offerings.

The meeting was informed that Expression of Interest (EOI) for the appointment of Financial Advisory Consortia for the divestment of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited's 10 to 15 % shares through GDR and in the domestic market has been invited. It will be submitted before the CCOP for further guidance and approval.

The meeting also recommended submitting the broad parameters of the agreement between the GoP and Ehtisalat of UAE, for privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) for necessary consideration and approval of CCOP.

The meeting reviewed the implementation status of the decisions taken in the earlier meeting and discussed the privatisation process of various other upcoming and ongoing entities.

The PC Board members, senior officials and representatives of the respective ministries and departments were present during the meeting.