Govt Panel Fails to Reach Decision on Billions of Unpaid Telecom Dues
Key Takeaways
- A sub-committee meeting failed to resolve billions in outstanding dues owed by Long Distance International (LDI) telecom companies.
- The meeting reviewed proposals from LDI firms, some willing to pay principal amounts in installments, while others await court verdicts.
- The absence of the Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, was cited as a factor contributing to the lack of consensus.
- Pending court cases and stay orders obtained by LDI companies against PTA decisions complicate the recovery of the dues.
- Committee members stressed expediting judicial proceedings and highlighted the potential benefit of establishing a Telecom Tribunal for dispute resolution.
A confidential sub-committee meeting on IT and Telecom, led by Zulfiqar Ali, was held to tackle the substantial outstanding dues amounting to billions owed by Long Distance International (LDI) telecom companies, following a request from the Ministry of Law and Justice. The committee reviewed proposals from the LDI firms, some of which indicated a willingness to pay the principal amounts in installments, while others awaited court verdicts. However, the sub-committee ultimately failed to achieve a consensus on the path forward, with sources suggesting the absence of Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja played a role in the lack of a final decision. Briefings were provided by the Secretary of Law and the Additional Attorney General regarding ongoing court cases, as many LDI companies secured stay orders against the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority's (PTA) previous determination orders. Committee members emphasized the need for the government to accelerate judicial proceedings and noted that establishing a Telecom Tribunal could resolve such financial disputes more effectively, though the Ministry of Law oversees the Tribunal's appointments.
