Trade News
Karachi, Pakistan, 11 March 2010 - The Board of Directors of BOC Pakistan Limited, a member of The Linde Group, on 11 March 2010 approved an investment of more than Rs. 2 billion (EUR 17 million) for the installation of a new state-of-the-art air separation plant and related supply chain equipment in Lahore. The approval also includes additional investment in vacuum insulated tanks and tankers to significantly add to the existing logistics capability in the northern part of the country.
This new air separation plant will be the largest in the country and will have the capability to produce up to 150 tons per day of merchant and gaseous products such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon. The project is expected to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2012, according to BOC Pakistan Limited’s Chief Executive, Syed Ayaz Bokhari.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Bokhari said, “The investment is critical for BOC Pakistan to both serve the growing markets of North Pakistan and more importantly, enhance its production capacity in Lahore. The investment is also a commitment to the continuous process of enhancing service to our existing and potential customers.”
The investment will not only meet the existing demand of customers in the steel, glass, food, hospital, chemicals, and oil & gas sectors, but is also reflective of the continued commitment of BOC Pakistan Limited and The Linde Group to meet future demand and market opportunities in Pakistan.
Sanjiv Lamba, Regional Business Unit Head for The Linde Group’s South & East Asia markets said from Singapore, “BOC Pakistan is part of The Linde Group, a world leading gases and engineering company. This latest investment is in addition to other recent investments of over Rs. 250 million (EUR 2 million) in modern facilities for the production of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide plants. The investment in the largest plant in Pakistan is reflective of The Linde Group’s commitment to grow its business in Pakistan by serving our customers and industry sectors in the most efficient and effective manner.”
About BOC Pakistan Limited
BOC Pakistan Limited is the leading industrial gases company in the country which owns and operates oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and dissolved acetylene manufacturing plants in Karachi, Port Qasim, Multan, Lahore and Taxila. The company has been operating in Pakistan since 1947 and is committed to continually improving services and products to a variety of industries across the country.
The BOC Group Limited, U.K., the majority shareholder of BOC Pakistan Limited, has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Linde AG, Germany. Accordingly, Linde AG is the ultimate parent company of BOC Pakistan Limited, and BOC Pakistan Limited is a member of The Linde Group.
About The Linde Group
The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, see The Linde Group online at http://www.linde.com
Contact:
BOC Pakistan Limited
Syed Ayaz Bokhari
Telephone: +9221.3231-3361
E-Mail: ayaz.bokhari@bocpakistan.com