PC DENIES ANY ROW OVER PAKISTAN STEEL TRANSACTION

Islamabad, February 27, 2007

Referring to a news report titled, 'Ministry- PC row delays Pak Steel IPO' carried by daily Business Recorder on February 27, 2007, a spokesman of the Privatisation Commission has refuted the whole news item, terming it as entirely baseless and concocted. There is no dispute whatsoever between Ministry of Production, Industries & Special Initiatives in respect of Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC) or any other transaction, and both are working in close coordination and consultation with each other in all matters, including the PSMC privatisation.

The privatisation of PSMC was previously approved by the Council of Common Interests in 1997 and the approval was reaffirmed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in its last meeting, the spokesman concluded.