VZCZCXRO1588
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #2867/01 2421019
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291019Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8564
INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 4259
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0235
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5975
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4782
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3697
RUEHIL/ODRP ISLAMABAD PK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002867 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EAID EFIN ENGY PK
SUBJECT: GOP FORMS PRIVITIZATION PLAN WITH OVERLY AMBITIOUS 
TIMEFRAMES 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary. Faced with a mounting financial crunch, Syed 
Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Privatization and Investment as 
well as Finance, recently chaired a meeting to finalize an overly 
ambitious schedule for privatization of a few low level public 
sector entities during September-October 2008.  Earlier the GOP put 
on hold a number of important privatization deals, which illustrates 
the current government's lack of commitment to the privatization 
process. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The current financial crunch encouraged the GOP to revisit 
its privatization policy.  Minister Qamar directed the Privatization 
Commission (PC) to expedite the sale of various public sector 
entities.  Noting that all relevant rules and regulations should be 
strictly observed and the privatization process should be carried 
out in an open, fair and transparent manner, Qamar instructed the PC 
to begin the valuation process for the following entities: 
 
¶3. (SBU) Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Bank:  SME Bank is a 
public limited company which has approximately 630 permanent and 
contractual employees and is operating through a diverse network of 
27 branches.  The Privatization Commission has identified 
pre-qualified bidders for SME Bank and September is targeted for 
completion of this privatization. 
 
¶4. (SBU) National Power Construction Company (NPCC): NPCC has paid 
up capital of Rs 20 million. It is a public sector company under the 
Federal Ministry of Water and Power. The Privatization Commission 
has identified pre-qualified bidders for the NPCC. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Kot Addu Power Company (KAPCO): Qamar specifically directed 
the PC to ensure timely completion of the listing process, 
regulatory approvals and international marketing for floating the 
global depository receipts of KAPCO in October 2008. Initially 
privatized in 1996, KAPCO is a large independent power producer with 
a power generation capacity of 1600 mega-watts. The government 
transferred management control and thirty six percent of the total 
shares to International Power.  The government now holds 64 percent 
of KAPCO's total 880 million issued shares. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Hazara Phosphate Fertilizers Limited (HPFL): Bidding for 
the privatization of a 90 percent share in HPFL with a targeted 
management control transfer during September 2008 for an authorized 
share value of Rs. 200 million. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC):  Qamar directed expeditious 
processing of Heavy Electrical Complex in order to complete this 
transaction in September 2008. HEC is one of the industrial units of 
the State Engineering Corporation engaged in the manufacturing of 
power transformers and with a total annual capacity of 3000 
megawatts (MW) per year. In addition, the HEC undertakes repair and 
refurbishment of old and damaged power transformers up to 500 KW. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Jamshoro Power Company (JP): On August 27, the PC also 
decided to invite fresh Expressions of Interests for the 
privatization of Jamshoro Power Company (JP) located in Sindh 
Province. JP was established as a result of the unbundling of 
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and was 
organized to take over all the properties, rights, assets, 
obligations and liabilities of three thermal power stations namely 
Jamshoro, Kotri and Lakhra with a total nameplate capacity of 1204 
MW.  The GOP intends to sell a majority 51 percent interest in JP 
including management control to a strategic investor or a consortium 
while maintaining 49 percent of the equity.  JP facilities are 
located near Hyderabad with key connections to the national grid for 
supply to Karachi. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Tourism Sector:  The sale of 26 motels and restaurants 
owned and operated throughout Pakistan by the Pakistan Tourism 
Development Corporation was also directed. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) The Privatization Commission Ordinance of 2000 mandates 
that 10 percent of all shares of the state owned enterprises slated 
for privatization should be transferred to its workers.  While 
addressing the meeting Qamar said that the government was in the 
process of making the privatization process as "pro-worker and 
pro-people as possible" and directed the PC to accelerate the 
transfer of shares to employees for the above mentioned enterprises. 
 
 
 
ISLAMABAD 00002867  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶11. (SBU) The ruling government has put on hold a number of 
privatization deals which were previously authorized. A year ago the 
Musharraf government decided to offload non-strategic shares of the 
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in the international stock market 
through global depository receipt; this deal was stopped by the now 
ruling government. Privatization Ministry sources told ECON that 
since the Government largely conducts its financial transactions 
through NBP the present Government wanted to rethink strategic 
advantages of privatizing any part of the National Bank.  The 
Finance Ministry was also negotiating the block sale of Habib Bank 
shares, which was also shelved. 
 
¶12. (SBU) On August 27, the Privatization Board meeting chaired by 
Qamar decided that the financial advisor for the Oil and Gas 
Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL) should work out all the 
options for privatization of OGDCL, noting that analysis is needed 
on whether a sale of shares, a strategic sale with management 
control or an assets sale, including Qadirpur Gas field, on fast 
track basis would be the best method. The previous government 
planned for a strategic sale of 51 percent of shares along with 
management control of OGDCL.  J.P Morgan, Barclay and ABN Amro Bank 
were appointed as lead managers for floating an exchangeable bond of 
OGDCL shares, however this bond was also put on hold by the new 
Government. A final determination on privatization will now be 
decided after the financial advisory consortium led by Merrill Lynch 
International and KASB Securities submits recommendations. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Comment. The GOP Finance Minster is trying to revive the 
stalled privatization process however there does not seem to be an 
actual plan for how to move forward with such efforts, particularly 
with such an ambitious timeframe.  With the exception of OGDCL, the 
companies nominated for privatization are not big ticket 
privatization items. The GOP still has not taken any decision to 
privatize some obvious choices such as Pakistan State Oil Company, 
Pakistan Petroleum Limited or to float the global depository 
receipts of National Bank of Pakistan or Oil and Gas Development 
Company. As investor confidence has ebbed and the rupee has 
depreciated the value and price of state owned enterprises has been 
negatively impacted. Post has learned that some members of the GOP 
leadership are rumored to be advocating for postponing privatization 
efforts until the rupee appreciates. While specifics on 
privatization plans are very difficult to obtain, Post continues to 
track down details to sort the myths from possible realities.  End 
Comment. 
 
PATTERSON