NA Committee Questions PTCL's Authority to Sell Assets

In a recent session, the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT & Telecom raised significant concerns regarding the authority of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) to sell its assets. This inquiry comes at a time when the state-owned telecom giant is under scrutiny for its operational decisions and commitments to the government and the public.

The committee, convened in the Parliament House, sought clarity on various issues, particularly focusing on the board of directors' powers in relation to the sale purchase agreement (SPA) established between the Government of Pakistan and Etisalat. The chair of the committee, Syed Aminul Haque, presented an advertisement that solicited bids for the purchase of several PTCL properties. However, when questioned about the status of these properties, a PTCL executive stated that no sales had occurred due to insufficient offers, which sparked frustration among committee members.

Member Mukhtar Ahmad Malik from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed his discontent, questioning the rationale behind the advertisement if no sales were intended. He criticized PTCL for failing to meet commitments made to the committee, particularly regarding the sharing of the SPA and the delayed submission of the procurement policy. This delay raised eyebrows, as the committee had been waiting for three months for a response.

During the meeting, Mr. Haque inquired whether the SPA granted the PTCL board the authority to sell assets and, if so, how many could be sold. The committee members referred to the minutes from a previous meeting, which indicated that 62 percent of PTCL's shares are owned by the Government of Pakistan, while 26 percent, along with management rights, belong to Etisalat. The remaining 12 percent is available on the stock exchange.

As the committee pressed for answers, PTCL representatives claimed they lacked the technical expertise to respond adequately to the questions posed. This prompted the committee chair to instruct PTCL officials to prepare comprehensive answers for the next meeting.

In addition to the asset sale concerns, committee members Omer Ayub and Sher Ali Arbab criticized the government's plans to block VPNs and the ongoing issues with internet throttling. They demanded accountability from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and IT ministry officials for their misleading statements regarding internet speed. Mr. Ayub pointed out that the committee had been assured that internet speeds would return to normal by the end of August, yet as of late October, users continue to experience slow connections. He highlighted the absurdity of blaming VPN usage for these issues.

Dr. Khawar Siddique, a compliance member of the PTA, countered these claims by stating that internet speeds were normal across the country and that there was no correlation between VPN usage and internet performance. This assertion, however, did little to quell the concerns of the committee members.

The ongoing discussions surrounding PTCL's asset sales and internet service quality reflect broader issues within Pakistan's telecommunications sector. As the committee continues to seek transparency and accountability, it is crucial for PTCL to address these concerns effectively. The public deserves clarity on how their telecommunications services are managed and the implications of any asset sales. Ultimately, the outcome of these discussions will not only impact PTCL but also the millions of users who rely on its services daily.