ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is entrenched in one of its serious financial crises, as non-payments, delayed dues, and court-stayed recoveries have pushed outstanding liabilities past Rs 55.57 billion.
In a written reply to a question to the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Minister In-charge of the Cabinet Division told the house that the PTA outstanding dues are Rs 16.33 billion and all these dues are sub-judice due to non-payment, late payment fee is applicable that amounts to Rs. 39.24 billion.
The federal minister said that outstanding contributions (i.e. USF & R&D contributions) payable to the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) are also sub-judice. He said that other dues i.e. Access Promotion Charges (APC) for Universal Service Fund (USF) of Pakistan are also payable to the Ministry and currently sub-judice in different courts.
In another written response, it was explained that the PTA has repeatedly tried to recover dues from operators. Show-cause notices were issued, enforcement orders passed, and recovery petitions filed under the Land Revenue Act. However, operators challenged these actions in court, leading to stay orders that have halted the recovery process. Similarly, payments for Access Promotion Charges (APC) for the Universal Service Fund (USF) are also tied up in ongoing legal disputes.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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