PAKISTAN TO HOLD NEXT ECO MOOT ON PRIVATISATION IN 2007

Islamabad, January 3, 2007

Next Economic Coordination Organization (ECO)'s conference on Privatisation will be held in Pakistan at Islamabad in 2007. The representative of the ECO Secretariat Mr. Metin Genckol announced this on the conclusion of ECO Conference on Privatisation held at Ankara, Turkey, says a message received here today from Ankara.

The ECO Conference at Ankara focused on the privatisation experience of Turkey in Telecom, Energy, Petroleum, Iron, Steel, Sea Ports, regulatory regime and the process. A presentation on Privatisation Social Support program in Turkey was also made. On the concluding day Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan made country presentations. Mr. Akhlaq Ahmed Malik, Director General Privatisation Commission and Mr. Tahir Parwaz Director Media Ministry of Privatisation & Investment made Pakistan's country presentation. Prior to the country presentation the participants were shown a documentary on investment prepared by the Board of Investment and CDs of the same were presented to the delegates along with Annual Report of Privatisation Commission.

The delegates termed Pakistan's privatisation and investment policies as impressive and showed keen interest in various sectors and expressed that the privatisation and investment program provided attractive opportunities, which would be beneficial for their country's investors. They lauded the achievements made by Pakistan on the economic front under the leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The delegates from Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrggstan and ECO Secretariat Tehran participated in the moot. The President of Turkish Privatisation Administration Mr. Metin KILCI distributed certificates and conference mementos among the delegates. The delegates were taken to Turk Telecom and TUPRAS Kirikkale oil refinery for a study tour, which have been privatised. The delegates were also taken to the Moslem of Marshal Atta Turk Kamal Pasha and Anatolian Museum in Ankara.