Telcos Owe Rs. 16.33 Billion in Dues to PTA

The federal government has informed the National Assembly that telecom companies owe Rs. 16.33 billion in outstanding dues to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The information was shared in a written response to a question by MNA Syed Waseem Hussain, who asked for details of the unpaid amounts and related actions. According to the response, all outstanding dues are currently sub-judice, which has halted the recovery process. The delay in payments has also resulted in a late payment fee of Rs. 39.24 billion, further increasing the financial burden linked to the telecom sector. The government confirmed that contributions to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, including the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Research and Development (R&D) Fund, also remain unpaid due to ongoing litigation. These funds are essential for expanding telecom services to underserved areas and supporting technology development projects. The reply stated that PTA has issued enforcement orders against licensees in line with legal procedures. However, recovery efforts remain stalled as various dues, including Access Promotion Charges (APC) for USF, continue to be challenged in different courts. The written response did not specify whether any action had been taken against officials considered negligent or ineffective over the past two years. It focused mainly on the financial obligations and the legal hurdles that are delaying their recovery.