Islamabad:
A Senate committee was informed on Monday that four out of five companies that submitted qualification statements (SOQS) for Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) were declared eligible.
The secretary of privatization informed the permanent senatorial committee that site visits and conferences were underway, after which the tender phase will begin.
During the Committee meeting, chaired by Senator Afnanullah on Monday, the privatization of PIA, Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), as well as electricity generation companies (GENCOS) and distribution companies (DISCO) were presented.
Committee members suggested to withdraw the PMDC from the Privatisa list, while the Committee also summoned the officials of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to discuss the privatization of nightclubs.
Briefing of the Committee, the joint secretary of the power division said that eight on nine questions in Nandipur and four out of nine in Guddu had been resolved.
He added that two Genco factories remain on the privatization list and that Discos and Gencos are currently undergoing the privatization process.
The privatization secretary noted that institutions carrying out profits today cannot necessarily remain profitable in the future.
“The role of the government is not to manage power plants or transport companies. After privatization, the government will gain income, while the private sector will improve performance and recovery,” he said.
The PMDC financial director has informed that the company generates an annual turnover of 5.40 billion rupees and produces 1.5 million tonnes of salt per year.
On the PIA, the secretary of privatization reiterated that five companies had submitted SOQs, four of whom were declared eligible.
