WAQAR ASSURED FULL SUPPORT BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PRIVATISATION PROCESS

Islamabad, December 27, 2009

The delegations of leading Financial Institutions of NAMURA Bank of Japan, Citibank and Morgan Stanley, in separate meetings at Dubai with Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan Federal Minister for Privatisation, showed their keen interest to extend full support in the privatisation process and to bring in investment by putting their stakes in the State Owned Entities (SoEs), says a message received here today.

The delegates included Regional Head for Asia Pacific of NAMURA Bank of Japan, Regional Head for Asia, Middle East & Africa of Morgan Stanley and top officials of Citibank.

Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan who is currently on a visit to UAE and UK to meet the leading investment banks and business groups and to brief them about the new concept of future value added privatisation program also informed the delegates regarding the growing economic scenario of Pakistan and informed that the growth rate was improving while interest rate has decreased from 16 to 12 % and the inflation has also came down from 24 % to 10 %. The government was determined to make more efforts for political stability to further strengthen the economic stability in accordance with the vision of martyred leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said.

The delegates of the Financial Institutions expressed their confidence in Pakistan’s economy and appreciated the government for bringing in stability and its continuing efforts for the economic reforms, which were evident from the positive economic indicators.

They appreciated the government’s resolve for bringing in political and economic stability through reconciliation process and taking unanimous decisions for NFC award and Baluchistan package. They assured that they would soon visit Pakistan to further explore the investment opportunities being extended through the Privatisation Program.