KARACHI, May 21: The following criteria was observed by the Karachi Stock Exchange in selection of Top-25 companies for 2001. The awards were distributed by the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Tuesday:

(1) The prerequisite for the purpose of selection of Top companies were: (a) a minimum distribution of 40 per cent (including at least 15 per cent cash dividend) by the companies; (b) minimum number of 500 shareholders; and (c) the company should have joined the Central Depository System (CDS) after its securities were declared eligible securities by the Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited.

(2) The companies which qualified the prerequisite were then selected on the basis of highest marks obtained as per the following criteria: (a) distribution — 40 per cent; (b) Return on Equity (on the basis of before tax) — 30 per cent and (c) Turnover of shares (net of cross transaction) — 30 per cent. The total of all that comes to 100 per cent.

Based on the above criteria, the following companies were judged Top 25 Companies-2001 and awarded in that order:

Pakistan Oilfields Limited; Unilever Pakistan Limited; Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited; Engro Chemical Pakistan Limited; Pakistan State Oil Company Limited; Arif Habib Securities Limited; Grays of Cambridge (Pakistan) Limited; Al-Ghazi Tractors Limited; Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited; Clariant Pakistan Limited; Nestle Milkpak Limited; Shell Pakistan Limited; Siemens Pakistan Engineering Company Limited; Millat Tractors Limited; Dawood Hercules Chemicals Limited; Bolan Castings Limited; International Industries Limited; BOC Pakistan Limited; Security Papers Limited; Din Textile Mills Limited; Ferozsons Laboratories Limited; First Imrooze Modaraba; Rafhan Bestfoods Limited; Habib Arkady Limited and Sitara Chemical Industries Limited.