PTCL Faces CCP Scrutiny Over $1bn Merger Investment Plan
By Salman Khan
ISLAMABAD – The management of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) came under intense scrutiny during a public hearing held by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on Tuesday, over a $1 billion investment plan deemed essential for the company’s proposed merger with Telenor.
PTCL had submitted the plan to secure the CCP’s approval for the long-pending telecom merger. However, the regulator raised serious questions, calling the plan vague and seeking further details on timelines and investment targets.
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Company officials confirmed that a PTCL team appeared before the CCP to respond to the objections. The investment roadmap is seen as a key requirement for obtaining merger clearance, but the process has been delayed for almost a year due to incomplete documentation.
A Ministry of IT official noted that the CCP is an independent authority and will decide the matter purely on merit.
Unpaid Dues & Land Dispute
Separately, the longstanding issue of $800 million in unpaid privatization dues by Etisalat—the UAE-based majority stakeholder in PTCL—remains unresolved. Although a $640 million settlement was negotiated by the previous government, the amount has yet to be paid.
The stalemate persists mainly due to disputes over land assets. Despite this, PTCL has reportedly begun selling some of its prime real estate, raising concerns in Parliament.
During a recent meeting, the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT warned PTCL of possible legal action over unauthorized property sales.
