PIA, PSM and PR to be privatized: Waqar

Federal Minister for Privatization Senator Waqar Ahmed Khan has said that the Privatization of 55 official departments is impossible in current situation despite approval by council of common interest. "Government has also started restructuring 8 state departments which were causing burden on National Exchequer", he said this during question hour session in the National Assembly on Thursday. After reorganization of 8 official departments including Pakistan International Airline (PIA), Pakistan Railway and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), he said, they would be privatized. Answering to a question, he said, PIA enjoys 99 percent share of Rose Wallet hotel in New York and Government earns 16 to 17 billion dollar annually from it. Department like PSM are burden on national exchequer but in current scenario we can not privatize it, he added. Federal Minister for Trade and Commerce Makhdoom Amen Fahim while responding to a question said Government is taking steps to reduce trade deficit but it links with international economic situation. Responding to another question, he said, we have stock of 80 thousand tones sugar in the country. He said he has recommended Government to convene conference commercial attach deputed in different countries to evaluate their performance. Replying to another question, he said, we are mulling to strike trade agreements with China, Egypt, Tunis, Morocco and Syria but talks into this effect has not started so far.

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