PC KICKS OFF PRIVATISATION PROCESS FOR SME BANK LTD

Islamabad, November 23, 2006

A meeting of the Transaction Committee for the privatisation of the Small & Medium Enterprise Bank (SME) was held here today to kick off the privatisation process. The management of the bank gave detailed presentation to the transaction committee and briefed the members regarding the functioning, operations and the issues involved.

The Committee discussed the privatisation plan and obtained the inputs of the relevant stakeholders. The government is pursuing a comprehensive SME Sector Development Plan SME (SDP) for increasing the outreach and availability of finance to the small and medium sector enterprises, aimed at creating job opportunities and poverty alleviation.

The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) had given approval for the inclusion of the transaction in the privatisation program on June 28, 2006 while the Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved it for privatisation on August 2, 2006.

Representatives of State Bank of Pakistan, Ministry of Finance, SME Bank management and the officials of the Privatisation Commission were present during the meeting.