Pak govt collects Rs350b thru' privatisation in three years

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 (APP): Around Rs350 billion have been collected through 20 privatisation transactions during last three years.
This was 72 per cent of the total amount (Rs475 billion) realised from privatisation since the Privatisation Commission was established around 16 years ago.
In December 2006, 9.5 shares of OGDCL were divested through an international offering of global depository shares.
According to data available with the news agency, as the economic fundamentals have been set right, Pakistan has become one of the most attractive investment destination. There are 48 bilateral investment treaties which are now becoming part of free trade agreements (FTAs).
The objective of the present government is to promote domestic and foreign investment and has also created an enabling environment, which is conducive for the participation of the private sector in sharing efforts for catering to the energy needs of the country.
Currently out of 20 million households, 5 million are connected with natural gas network and approximately 1.8 million are using LPG.
Production of gas during the last three years had increased by 188 MMCFD, which is equivalent to about 1.64 million metric ton of furnace oil per year worth $0.59 billion on an average price of $360/Metric Ton.
A number of reforms in the oil sector have been initiated during last three years and criteria for setting up of new oil marketing companies have been approved.
In order to implement the national sanitation policy, strategy and action plans are under preparation in consultation with all stakeholders including the provincial governments, district governments and the private sector.