ISLAMABAD: Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has urged the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation, Muhammad Ali, to direct the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to recover outstanding dues of USD800 million from M/s Etisalat dating back to 2005, which, after more than two decades, have reportedly grown to approximately USD6 billion.
In a letter to the Adviser, TIP stated that it had approached the Chief Justice of Pakistan in 2011, highlighting that M/s Etisalat UAE was in default of USD800 million, which had then increased to USD1.6 billion. With another 15 years having passed, the amount had now swelled to over USD6 billion and needs to be recovered from the owners of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) to prevent further loss to the national exchequer.
TIP further stated that it had written to the PTA and the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the loss of a 2 percent penalty—estimated at USD1.5 billion over seven years (from 2005)— as well as the non-payment of over USD800 million related to PTCL’s sale proceeds by M/s Etisalat.
READ MORE: Pakistan seeks prompt settlement of issues relating to privatisation, operations of PTCL by UAE
According to TIP, the undue favour allegedly extended by PTA to M/s Etisalat is in violation of PTA rules and has contributed to significant financial losses to the exchequer.
“As Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates move to address long-standing PTCL-related issues, it is important that the Government of Pakistan takes up the matter of defaulted payments,” TIP said.
TIP has requested the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation to review the PTCL case and issue directions to PTA for recovery of the outstanding dues, which have escalated from USD800 million in 2005 to around YSD6 billion today. In January 2026, Pakistan sought an early resolution of long-pending issues related to the privatisation and operations of PTCL, which is managed by the UAE-based telecom operator Etisalat.
These issues—including the pending payment of approximately USD800 million by Etisalat to the Government of Pakistan — were discussed during a meeting in Dubai between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Jassem Mohammed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Finance Abu Dhabi, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs, Chairman of Etisalat (e&), and Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Holding Company (ADQ).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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