PRIVATISATION PROGRAM TO BE MADE PEOPLE & WORKERS FRIENDLY-Syed Naveed Qamar

Islamabad, April 01, 2008

The Privatisation Program will be made people and workers friendly, which will contribute to the overall economy by generating more taxes and employments, increasing production and improving quality and efficiency. Syed Naveed Qamar Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment and Ports & Shipping stated this while chairing a meeting of the Privatisation Commission here today.

Syed Naveed Qamar said that Trade Unions remained on board during the privatisation process conducted in the earlier government of Pakistan Peoples Party but unfortunately this liaison lacked during the previous government. The strong relations with the Trade Unions would be rebuild and they would be again made partners in the privatisation process of the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in order to safeguard their legitimate interests.

The Minister indicated that the government would fully involve the people, press and the parliamentarians to make the privatisation process very open and transparent. We would carryout the privatisation of SOE transactions in the interest of the 160 million people of Pakistan who were the real owners of these assets, he added.

Syed Naveed Qamar directed the Privatisation Commission officials to put up realistic timeline for the privatisation of public sector entities in a professional manner.

Earlier, Mr. Ahmed Jawad Secretary Privatisation Commission made a presentation regarding the status of the ongoing and upcoming transactions, which would be further reviewed sector wise.