Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has initiated enforcement proceedings against China Mobile Pakistan Limited (CMPak), operator of Zong, to recover a Late Payment Additional Fee (LPAF) of $11.77 million. The fee stems from delayed renewal of a cellular license originally issued to Paktel Limited in 1990, later acquired by CMPak.
The license was due for renewal on October 23, 2019, under new financial and regulatory terms mandated by the government. CMPak challenged the renewal fee in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which ordered a 50% interim payment. CMPak paid approximately PKR 18.46 billion (USD 238.6 million) in late 2019 but incurred the late fee due to missed deadlines.
If unpaid, PTA may impose financial penalties, license restrictions, or service disruptions. Zong can appeal or negotiate to avoid operational impacts. The dispute highlights regulatory challenges in Pakistan’s competitive telecom sector.
