Cover Story
Privatization offers
opportunities for fresh investment |
|
An interview
with Yasin Lakhani, Chairman, Karachi Stock Exchange
By SHABBIR H. KAZMI
Dec 06 - 12, 1999
The inconsistency in the GoP policies, lack of efforts to resolve IPPs
issue and delays in privatization of state enterprises are the key factors adversely
affecting the investment in the country. If the local sponsors are shy, how could the
foreign investors take any initiative. These were the expressions of Yasin Lakhani,
Chairman, Karachi Stock Exchange while talking to PAGE.
While the economic managers were responsible for some of the adverse
measures, many of the factors affecting the economic fundamentals for the country were
really beyound their control. These included persistent economic uncertainty following the
nuclear tests and imposition of economic sanctions. This on the one hand forced the GoP to
freeze foreign currency accounts and the country faced a near-default situation. On the
other hand the Asian crisis further diverted the attention of fund managers away from
Pakistan. All their attention and efforts were concentrated towards these countries
involving substantial stake.
Pakistan has tremendous potential for economic growth but the 'status
quo policy' and delay in the privatization of state enterprises has diminished the
interest of foreign investors towards Pakistan. Foreign investors are mainly interested in
large scale projects and privatization offering the immediate opportunities for
investment. The sectors of immediate interest for foreign investors are power generation,
transmission and distribution, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure projects and
financial services.
The previous government, once the external debts were rescheduled,
initiated transport revamping and Mera Ghar schemes having no impact on the economy but
overlook deteriorating law and order situation and increasing political instability. This
had a direct impact on the economy of the country and concerns about Pakistan's ability to
honour even the rescheduled debt servicing obligations.
To improve the prevailing economic scenario, Yasin made two
suggestions. In his opinion, instead of imposing 15 per cent GST on retailers, the GoP
should levy 5 per cent tax in the first phase and gradually increase the percentage.
Alongwith this income tax on income from agriculture should be imposed and collected.
The second suggestion was regarding privatization. To give a feeling
that GoP is serious in privatization, at least 10 per cent of the total shares of public
sector enterprises listed at stock exchanges, should be offered to general public. If it
is feared that some group may try to accumulate the shares, the offer should be for a lot
of 1000 shares and to the individuals only.
Besides, conveying the impression that the GoP is serious, the process
can help in gauging the sale prices of the shares for the transfer of management. The
basis of calculating the offer price should be the net asset value. It should also be kept
in mind that shares of profit making companies can be offered only as general public will
not be interested in buying the shares of loss making corporations.
For quite some time the GoP has been talking about privatization of
WAPDA, KESC, Habib Bank, United Bank, Sui Southern Gas Company and Sui Northern Gas
Pipeline. Area Electricity Boards of WAPDA now operate as limited companies. Bidders for
KESC have been short listed and even the financial restructuring has been done. Therefore,
sale of the shares of these entities, through stock exchanges, should not take very long
In his views, the GoP should gradually remove the capital control
restrictions. As such remittances are now allowed but the central bank unnecessarily
delays the outflow of profit. This has a direct negative bearing and new investors are
reluctant to invest in Pakistan despite the fact that many shares are quoted at a
substantial discount.
In order to attract the investors he made two suggestions. The
regulators must discharge their due responsibility and the companies should make greater
disclosure and follow good governance. According to Lakhani, performance of limited
companies is the only criteria to attract the investors. In most of the sectors a small
number of companies are doing exceptionally well. Therefore, it may be said, the
economical fundamentals for these sectors are not totally adverse. If management really
strive hard even the bad performing companies will be able to emulate the best performing
companies.
