ISLAMABAD: Financial advisers for the transactions of HBL and ABL will be appointed soon as the process is in “advanced stage”, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was informed on Friday.

In a meeting to review the government’s privatisation programme and other capital market transactions, Privatisation Commission chairman Muhammad Zubair informed that the basic work relating to education of prospective investors at many places internationally or at key capital markets for divestment of OGDCL shares was completed as allowed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Further developments in this regard will be planned in the light of guidance to be provided by the apex court, he said.

Dar underlined the significance of the programme for the overall macroeconomic stability and external account viability and stressed continuous focus and diligence of planned transactions.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, Secretary Finance Waqar Masood and Secretary Law Barrister Zafarullah Khan also attended.

In a separate meeting of the committee on China-Pakistan economic corridor power projects, Dar reiterated government’s commitment to continue following “investors-friendly policies”.

The committee believed that the framework of investment in the power sector under the current power policy provided adequate guarantees for domestic and foreign investors on the basis of a level-playing field.

Pakistan would also welcome Chinese investors for projects in the proposed economic corridor, such as railways and highways.

“Meeting the energy requirements of the country was one of top priorities of the government,” he said.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Secretary to Prime Minister Javaid Aslam, Secretary Planning and Development Hassan Nawaz Tarar, Additional Secretary Finance Shahid Mahmood and Additional Secretary P&D Rizwan Bashir were also present.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2014