October 16, 2005	Sunday	Ramzan 11, 1426

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‘Let there be regulatory framework first’ KARACHI: With an ill-equipped, ineffective almost non-existent regulatory and legal environment, the privatization of utility services seems to be an impending nightmare for all of us and especially for traders and businessmen whose reliance on these services is absolutely crucial....		Should water, power and gas be privatized? KARACHI: The privatization of public utilities -— water, power, gas — is seldom debated for its benefits and its pitfalls are very little understood. That does not make the issue any less important. “Should public utilities be placed in private hands?” a seasoned businessman was asked. The answer came as was expected: “May be yes, but I am not sure.”....
‘It is not the business of govt to do business’ ISLAMABAD: People in Pakistan have been supportive of the privatization programme but there are hidden forces within the government like ministers, bureaucrats and heads of companies who resist privatization to save their empires, authority and powers....		Big money creates conflict of interests KARACHI: In practical terms, there are many pitfalls to privatization, and more so in case of handing over public utilities to the private sector. Economist Salman Lalani observes: “No previous privatizations...
Benefits be weighed against costs LAHORE: People are confused. They are not sure what position to take on the question of privatization of the public utilities. Should they support the lobby advocating privatization of the public...		Politicians wonder: to be or not to be? KARACHI: Major political parties believe that it is the government’s responsibility to provide basic amenities to the people and that indiscriminate privatization of public utilities only brings into question the justification...
Industry prefers cost-effective policy KARACHI: The biggest concern of the private sector with regard to the privatization of public utilities — power, gas and water — is the cost factor....		Govt to retain gas pricing KARACHI: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) is expected to continue determining gas prices after Sui Southern Gas Company and Sui Northern Gas Company are privatized....
Utilities sell-off can add to NWFP problems PESHAWAR: Pinched with already higher prices triggered by rising energy costs, people belonging to lower income groups, business community and political leaders of the Frontier province see further devastation to the...		Pakistan for focus on market access: WTO trade talks ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan on Saturday attributed the failure of two WTO ministerial conferences to high aspiration of the member countries to achieve results on a very ambitious scale....
54pc of bank credits go to corporates: Financial sector assessment 2004 KARACHI, Oct 15: Despite all efforts of diversification in lending of loans, the corporate sector remained dominant by absorbing 54.1 per cent of banks’ total credit of Rs415 billion during 2004....		Conditions for ST wavier on gas notified ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has notified conditions for manufacturers of five zero-rated sectors — textile, surgical, sports, carpet and leather — for availing sales tax exemption on consumption of natural gas....
Ginners lower asking prices KARACHI, Oct 15: The cotton market on Saturday gave another volatile performance as ginners again lowered their asking prices followed by reports of steady arrivals of phutti into the ginneries....		Net asset value of NIT unit up 14.4pc KARACHI, Oct 15: The Net Asset Value of NIT unit has shown an increase of 14.45 per cent from Rs38.12 as on June 30, 2005 (ex-dividend) to Rs43.63...
CFS rates rise KARACHI, Oct 15: After ruling unchanged for the last couple of weeks, weighted average rate under the Continuous Financing System (CFS) on the Karachi Stock Exchange last week rose by 400 basis points at 21.6...		Karachi Port operations KARACHI, Oct 15: Seven vessels carrying soyabean oil, chemicals and containers are expected to arrive at the outer anchorage on Sunday, according to KPT sources. Berthing activity at the wharves was...
Union leaders oppose sale of public assets KARACHI: The trade union leaders opposed privatization of public sector utilities and termed it an anti workers and anti people move of the elitist government. “The government should stop privatizing public units....		Public-private partnership can give results KARACHI: While the business of private mineral water bottlers is thriving in cities, Managing Director Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) Brig Iftikhar Haider rules out the possibility of sell-off of the KW&SB in near future....
Private sector supports privatization KARACHI: While fully supporting the privatization of Wapda, SSGC, KESC and water board, the private sector gave a mixed response to the possibility of price increases after the sell-off of these utilities....		POL prices KARACHI: The Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) has kept the prices of petroleum products unchanged for the fortnight starting from October 16-31, 2005, says a press release issued here on Saturday....