Finance Minister Dar emphasizes fair privatization transactions

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar emphasized that the government's utmost priority with respect to privatization was to ensure that transactions were conducted in an open, fair and transparent manner.

The minister chaired a meeting to review matters related to privatization on Tuesday where Privatization Commission Chairman Mohammad Zubair briefed the minister on the status of the ongoing privatization transactions.

He apprised the minister of the status of various state-owned entities including Pakistan Steel Mills and SME Bank.

He said that the government was actively working to resolve the financial bleeding caused to the national exchequer by loss-making state-owned enterprises.

He stated that the government made a decision regarding the restructuring or privatization of each loss-making entity on a case-by-case basis while keeping in view the specific circumstances of each entity, and in the best interests of the people of Pakistan.

He urged the Privatization Commission to complete the ongoing transactions in a timely manner whilst ensuring full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Privatization Commission.