CCOP APPROVES 10 % SECONDARY PUBLIC OFFERING OF UNITED BANK LIMITED

Islamabad, February 18, 2006

The meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) was held today in the Cabinet Room of the Prime Minister's Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister Mr. Shaukat Aziz.

The CCOP approved the Secondary Public Offering of 5 % United Bank Limited shares with another 5 % green shoe option. The shares would be offered to the general public in two lots of 500 and 1,000 shares. The offering would be brought to the market in the next eight weeks.

The CCOP was informed that eight parties had been pre-qualified for participating in the bidding for Pak American Fertilizers Company Limited. It was also informed that the bidding for this company would held on February 28, 2006.

The Committee was informed that the bidding for Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has been scheduled for early March 2006. the Minister for Privatisation & Investment also apprised the  Committee about the status of the privatisation program of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).

The CCOP was also briefed on the upcoming transaction upto June 30, 2006  namely SNGPL, SSGC, NIT Units, Jamshoro Power Company and IPOs of SLIC and PARCO.

The CCOP noted that the privatisation program was moving satisfactorily and appreciated the efforts of the Privatisation Commission in professionally pursuing program.