Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has called on the government to initiate immediate recovery of outstanding payments linked to the privatization of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), warning that unresolved dues have grown into a multi-billion-dollar issue.
In a letter addressed to Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, TIP urged authorities to direct the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to recover an original unpaid amount of USD800 million from UAE-based telecom operator Etisalat dating back to PTCL’s 2005 privatization deal.
According to TIP, the unpaid amount—first flagged nearly two decades ago—has significantly increased over time. The organization said that when it approached the Chief Justice of Pakistan in 2011, the outstanding liability had already doubled to approximately USD1.6 billion. With additional years passing and penalties accumulating, TIP now estimates the total financial impact to have exceeded USD6 billion.
TIP also highlighted that repeated communications were sent to both PTA and the Supreme Court regarding unpaid sale proceeds and the alleged loss of a contractual 2 percent penalty, which it estimates caused an additional financial loss of around USD1.5 billion during the first seven years following the privatization.
The watchdog alleged that regulatory leniency shown toward Etisalat may have violated PTA rules and contributed to continued losses for the national exchequer.
As Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates continue discussions aimed at resolving long-standing PTCL operational and privatization issues, TIP stressed that settlement of defaulted payments must remain a top government priority.
The matter was also discussed earlier in January 2026 during a meeting in Dubai between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and senior Abu Dhabi officials, including Etisalat Chairman Jassem Mohammed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, where both sides reviewed pending issues related to PTCL operations and privatization commitments.
TIP has urged the government to conduct a fresh review of the case and issue clear directives to ensure recovery of outstanding dues to prevent further financial losses.
