ISLAMABAD, 8 August — Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad yesterday for a two-day official visit, officials said. Hariri was received by Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf at an air force base at Chaklala, near Islamabad.
“Prime Minister Hariri’s visit will provide an opportunity to the two leaders to discuss regional and international issues including the Kashmir issue, situation in the Middle East, and other important matters of bilateral concern,” said a Foreign Ministry statement on Monday.
Hariri heads a delegation that includes Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, Defense Minister Khalil Hrawi, Economy and Trade Minister Bassel Fuleihan. “The two delegations will also hold wide-ranging discussions on issues of bilateral interest and proposals for increased interaction and mutually beneficial cooperation,” the statement said.
Hariri’s family business concern has expressed interest in the purchase of state-owned Pakistan Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (PTCL), which is up for privatization. Pakistani officials say 11 companies have applied to the state Privatization Commission for the purchase of at least 26 percent strategic stake and management control of PTCL. Hariri’s family business concern is one of the 11 companies, which along with the rest will have to go through a competitive process that is due to be completed by the end of this year, a commission official told Reuters.
Pakistan is ready to sell its $2 billion state telecom monopoly to the business group of the Lebanese prime minister, officials said yesterday. Hariri arrived with a high-powered delegation to seal the deal. An announcement to this effect is expected today, the officials said. “The privatization of Pak Telecom will be formally agreed in talks between Hariri and President Pervez Musharraf though the divestment itself will be done in phases,” a PTCL official said.
Musharraf visited Lebanon in January this year and signed two bilateral agreements on trade and promotion and protection of investments with Hariri. “These two agreements are expected to boost bilateral trade and economic and commercial interaction between the private sectors of the two countries,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
“Hariri’s visit will provide an opportunity to the leaders of the two countries to also discuss issues of mutual interest including proposals of increased interaction and mutually beneficial cooperation,” the spokesman said. “The fact that he himself is a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur with widespread international business interests is expected to contribute to further strengthening of bilateral economic and commercial interaction between the two countries,” he added.
