Transparency International Pakistan has called on authorities to recover approximately $800 million in outstanding dues from Etisalat related to its acquisition of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), warning that the total liability may have escalated to as much as $6 billion over time.
The issue stems from Etisalat’s partial withholding of payment from the original PTCL privatisation deal, citing unresolved property transfer issues linked to PTCL assets. Despite years of discussions, a portion of the agreed acquisition amount remains unpaid, making it one of the longest-running disputes tied to Pakistan’s telecom sector.
Transparency International has urged the government to take decisive action to resolve the matter and recover the outstanding amount, emphasizing the financial implications for the national exchequer. The organisation also highlighted concerns around governance, accountability, and delays in addressing contractual obligations.
The PTCL-Etisalat dispute has persisted for nearly two decades, periodically resurfacing amid broader scrutiny of privatisation deals and regulatory enforcement in Pakistan. Resolving the issue could have implications not only for government revenues but also for investor confidence in large-scale telecom and infrastructure transactions.
The development comes at a time when Pakistan is seeking to strengthen its investment climate and attract foreign capital into key sectors, including telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
Editor’s Note:
The prolonged PTCL-Etisalat dispute remains a critical test of regulatory enforcement and contract governance in Pakistan’s telecom sector. Its resolution could influence future investor sentiment toward large-scale privatisation and infrastructure deals in the region.
