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A senior official from UK Trade and Investment Mission Mr. Ahmed Asif,
Director, Asia Pacific accompanied by British Deputy High Commissioner to
Pakistan Mr. Hamish Daniel held a meeting with Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh Federal
Minister for Privatisation & Investment at Islamabad here today.
The Minister briefed them about the ongoing process of the privatisation of
public sector entities and said that utmost care was being observed to hold
the process in a most transparent process and up to the entire satisfaction of
the participating investors and other stakeholders.
Dr. Hafeez Shaikh said that the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf was
the major force in the successful and most transparent execution of
privatisation program in Pakistan, which could not be witnessed in any other
country of the South Asia region. In Pakistan we provided level playing field
to the local and foreign investors without any discrimination, he said.
He further sated that during the past two and a half year privatisation of 21
transactions worth Rs.88 billion have been completed and not a single employee
was retrenched from these units. Under the policy of 'Privatisation for the
People' 760, 000 citizens of the country have benefited from the divestment of
GoP shares in various public sector entities through the Stock Markets, which
has appreciated in terms of value to the tune of Rs. 44 billion under an
ongoing process to transmit the fruits of privatisation to the common
man, he added.
UK Trade and Investment Mission official Mr. Ahmed Asif, Director lauded
Pakistan's efforts for deregulation, privatisation and for stepping up the
pace of investment activity and informed the Minister that the purpose of his
visit to Pakistan was to explore investment opportunities in the potential
areas for the British investors and to promote the trade and investment
activity between the private sectors of both the countries.