Ministry Of Privatization Nears Finalization of Multiple Transactions

Federal Minister, Mohammed Mian Soomro, chaired a review meeting in the Ministry today. The current status and progress in the privatization of entities in the active privatization list were reviewed.

The latest report regarding the progress made thus far in the transaction of SOEs was presented, and various issues were discussed in detail. These include the Federal government’s properties across Pakistan, of which 23 out of 27 were auctioned last year. For the remaining unsold properties, EOIs are already published for hiring financial advisors.


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For Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC), five investors were prequalified, and the transaction is most likely to be completed in the first quarter of the current FY.

For Jinnah Convention Center (JCC), the expected date of transaction completion is in December this year.

The matters relating to SME, First Women Bank, and House Building Finance Corporation (HBFCL) are also taken up with the State Bank of Pakistan and other relevant forums. The board for the First Women Bank is nominated, which will update the financials and audit reports to proceed with the privatization process.

The privatization of Services International Hotel is at an advanced stage; after the approval of the revised reference price for the Services International Hotel (SIH) from the Cabinet, the process for the auction will be initiated.

The privatization of National Power Parks Management Company Limited (NPPMCL), which is the major prospective transaction of the whole privatization plan, was also discussed in the meeting. The most pressing issues associated with this complex transaction have been resolved, including land conversion, the draft scheme for the demerger of NPPMCL into two companies, water usage, and those remaining are actively pursued. A sub-committee to that effect had also been constituted.

Federal Minister Mohammed Mian Soomro said, “NPPMCL is very important, and we are consistently and minutely following the tracks which would lead us to the early completion of this transaction.”

The bidders, which were shortlisted last year, were again engaged to complete the buyers’ side due diligence after site visits. For matters relating to the transactions of the Nandipur Power Plant (NPP) and Guddu Power Plant, concerned Ministries were approached, and the Federal Minister directed concerned authorities to resolve the issues on a fast track basis.

For the revival of Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation, the transaction structure was approved in December 2020, according to which, a subsidiary was to be formed for transferring the identified assets and subsequent sale of majority shares of the newly formed subsidiary without transferring the ownership. To reach the eventuality, certain corporate actions are required on part of the stakeholders, which are pursued by the Ministry of Privatisation.

In the upcoming PC Board meeting, the salient features of the transaction structure of PSM would be discussed.


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Federal Minister for Privatization said that the focus is on the timely completion of the transactions, which were already extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He further said that we are resolved to compress the timelines for the transaction completion of the identified entities and putting an all-out effort to improve the efficiency of these public sector entities on the one hand and reduce the fiscal burden on the economy on the other.



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