PC RECEIVES FOURTEEN EOI'S FOR 26 % SHARES OF PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY LIMITED WITH MANAGEMENT CONTROL

Islamabad, January 29, 2005

The improved macro economic situation of the country as reflected 'positive' by international institutions and robust financial position by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has generated unprecedented interest among the investors for PTCL. The Privatisation Commission has so far received EOI's from fourteen (14) parties for acquiring 26 % shares of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) with management control as a wholly integrated telecom operator.

These fourteen prospective buyers for PTCL include big names like Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (ETISALAT), UAE, Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Sing Tel), Singapore, Mobile Telecommunications Co, Kuwait, MTN International (Pty) Ltd, South Africa, Saudi Oger Limited, Saudi Arabia, China Mobile Communication Company, China, Millicom Int'l, Saudi Telecom, Saudi Arabia, Telecom Malaysia, Malaysia and other investors from the  region.

PTCL is the leading provider of basic telephone services to the private sector in Pakistan with over 4.4 million telephone lines in service. Besides providing fixed line and ancillary services, PTCL owns Pakistan Telecommunication Mobile Limited, one of five GSM cellular providers in Pakistan and Paknet a countrywide Internet service provider. Its strong financial position demonstrated during FY 2004 excluding subsidiaries as per unconsolidated financials of PTCL indicates: Revenue PKR 74,124 million, Operating profit: PKR: 41938 million, Net Profit after Tax: PKR:29,169 million, Total Assets: PKR: 141,595 million, Total Equity: PKR: 83,600 million, with a network of installed 5.27 million lines and 4.43 million access lines in service.