National Assembly body on IT criticises defaulter firms

Standing Committee of National Assembly on IT and Telecom, has expressed concerns over issue of recovery of due payments by Telecom firms. The committee, which met on Thursday made recommendation for seizing accounts of defaulter ones so as to set a precedent for the future.
The committee, met under the chairmanship of Barjees Tahir, criticised the defaulters saying that these companies are prowling people's wealth and taking it to abroad. The committee stressed the Ministry of IT and Telecom to take immediate steps for the recovery and to bring the culprits to justice. The committee also opined for the suspension of the licenses of concerned LDI Operators.
Earlier, briefing the committee Dr Yaseen, Chairman Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) informed that LDI Operators had challenged the vires of AP Rules in High Court on which High Court gave its decision in favour of PTA. He said the said operators challenged the matter in Supreme Court, which is now subjudice. He informed that the PTA in the meanwhile issued orders for suspension of licenses of WorldCall, Wisecomm, 4-B Gentle, Multinet and Red Tone for non-payment of dues on which on which High Court ordered for the stay.
It is worth mentioning that PTA has to recover Rs 41 billion out of which 15.904 billion rupees are total outstanding from top ten LED Operators. The committee however opined to wait for the report of PAC in this regard and maintained that the said companies' accounts be seized.
The Chairman Committee, Chaudhry Barjees Tahir further added in recommendation that the names of the owners must also be included in ECL (Exit Control List). He also asked the ministry's authorities to take notice of removing of PTCL Exchanges. He said there are many reports that PTCL is removing its telephone exchanges resulting into termination of services.
He said Pakistan cannot afford such losses by giving 24 percent shares of PTCL to foreigners. Latter, responding to briefing on IT Policy the committee said that there were many projects that cause financial burden on national economy. It said the policy must conform to the objectivity and the result orientation. The committee also asked the officials to redress the policy and said the targets must be set so that they can be achieved. Besides Chairman of the Committee and the Secretary IT and Telecom, Saeed Ahmad Khan, members of the committee and officials from the relevant departments also attended the meeting.