PAKISTAN TARGETS US $ 3.5 BILLION PRIVATISATION PROCEEDS IN FY 2007-08-Wasi Zafar

Islamabad, November 08, 2007

The Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment Mr. Muhammad Wasi Zafar while talking to a group of economic media persons today said that Pakistan has targeted US $ 3.5 billion through the privatisation of public sector entities in FY 2007-08. The target achieved for privatisation proceeds for FY 2006-07 was US $ 2 billion.

He disclosed that during the current year (2007-08) from July 2007 to November 2007 an amount of US $ 440.597 million equivalent to Pak Rs.26.869 billion have been received through privatisation proceeds by the Privatisation Commission.

The Minister further clarified that an impression had been created in a section of the press that the privatisation proceeds had been stalled, was totally incorrect. Judging from the above stated position, the Minister stated that so far US $ 440.597 million has been received as privatisation proceeds, which was a commendable achievement.

The proceeds relate to UBL GDRs (US $ 85 million), HBL IPO (US $ 196 million - Rs.12 billion), M/s Etisalat tranche (received on 7th of November) for PTCL privatisation (US $ 133.217 million) and Rs.1.6 billion from other privatisation proceeds, which have been deposited into the Government account. He further stated that the total target for the year 2007 -08 was around US $ 3 – 3.5 billion and hopefully this target would be achieved.