The deputy of Iran Privatization Organization (IPO) stated that six bank and insurance companies have been omitted from the national budget of Iranian calendar year 1389 (starting March 20 2010).
Esmaeil Gholami told the Mehr News Agency that special discounts have been given to 15 companies offered in Tehran Stock Exchange while one company's buying contract has been cancelled.
Gholami stated that three banks, such as Saderat, Tejarat and Mellat, and three insurance companies including Alborz, Asia amd Dana have been excluded from the Iranian calendar in next year's national budget.
The official said we should wait for the offering of the shares of other government firms by the end of this year in line with Article 44 of the Iranian Constitution.
The companies sold in the stock exchange are excluded from the budget.
According to Iran's Fourth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005-2010), the IPO, affiliated to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, is in charge of setting prices and granting shares to the general public and on the stock market.
In 2007, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei requested that government officials speed up implementation of the policies outlined in the amendment of Article 44, and move towards economic privatization.