*ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Minister’s unique offer over the privatisation of thetop national assets PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills has left all and sundrywondering in the country. *
*Adviser to Prime Minister on Financial Affairs Miftah Ismail has offeredto give the Pakistan Steel Mills for free to the investor who agrees to buythe loss-making Pakistan International Airlines*, private TV channel hasreported.
The minister has described these two state institutions the white elephantschoking the national economy.
“I don’t know if there will be a buyer after the next elections but I hopethere is one and we should try and sell this PIA,” he said while speakingat a seminar in Islamabad on Thursday.
“I would do an offer whoever buys the PIA, I will give them Pakistan Steelfor free,” he offered.
“Seriously I will take all the liabilities and I will give Pakistan Steelfor free. Why should we own Pakistan Steel? They make only one million tonsof steel and I think in Pakistan we import 20 to 30 million tons of steel.Why should we own Pakistan Steel Mills?”
“Every month you guy pay Rs400 million for salary to workers who don’t cometo work,” he maintained.
Later, speaking on SAMAA’s current affairs show ‘Nadeem Malik Live’, Miftahdefended his government’s plans to privatize the national flag carrier,saying it is incurring an annual loss of Rs40 billion.
“We cannot restructure the PIA. If we had the ability to do it, we wouldnot have come to this point,” Ismail said.
“The PIA has become a burden on the nation kitty. The total loss incurredby the national airlines this year alone stands at Rs40 billion,” said thefinance adviser. “We can spend this money on hospitals and educationinstitutions,” he said.