New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Buoyed by the strong response to its PSUs shares sales, the government today exuded confidence that it would meet the disinvestment target of Rs 40,000 crore for the current fiscal.

"Of course, the government will achieve the target of Rs 40,000 crore, which has been provided in the Budget and the evidence is before us," Disinvestment Secretary Sumit Bose told reporters.

He further said that the government had already mopped up around Rs 21,000-22,000 crore in the current fiscal and the public issues of MOIL (formerly known as Manganese Ore India Limited) and Shipping Corporation of India, which open this month, would take the disinvestment amount to over Rs 23,000 crore.

"...Then we have next, issues of ONGC and SAIL lined up, so we will surely achieve what we are supposed to in terms of raising Rs 40,000 crore," he added. Disinvestment target backed by planned public offers and stake sales, government advances with further PSU issues scheduled. The central government is pursuing a fiscal disinvestment programme through sale of public sector undertaking equity, reporting substantial receipts from earlier transactions and expecting imminent public offers (MOIL and Shipping Corporation) and subsequent issues (ONGC and SAIL) to advance cumulative proceeds toward the budgeted target within the current fiscal year.