Federal Privatisation and Investment Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said that efforts are being made to privatise Pakistan Steel Mills by December 31. He was talking to reporters after delivering a keynote address at Convocation 2005 of Iqra University at its campus here on Saturday.
The minister further pointed out that financial advisors are being appointed for the privatisation of Pakistan Steel as has been done for any big transaction. He said later on advertisement would be placed for the purpose and the process would be carried out in a transparent manner, as has been the case of privatisation procedure.
Dr Hafeez Shaikh pointed out that some organisations would be privatised during the next few months and that NIT is included among them. When asked as to what is the target for privatisation and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the next fiscal year, the minister maintained that for such things precise targets in monetary terms are not set.
To another question, the minister pointed out that the government's role in telecom sector was very much there. He said there is a Ministry of Telecommunication whose job is to frame good policies for this very sector.
There is a Telecommunication Authority- PTA, whose role is to regulate this organisation. National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) is entrusted with special communication. He said in PTCL even after the privatisation, the government would be the majority share holder.