A massive financial scandal has rocked Pakistan’s telecommunications sector, implicating seven major Local Loop Interconnect (LDI) companies and senior officials from the Ministry of IT and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). At the heart of the controversy are unpaid dues amounting to Rs 58.9 billion, raising serious concerns about regulatory oversight and potential collusion.
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The companies accused include WorldCall Telecom, Wateen Telecom, TeleCard, Dancom Pakistan, Redtone Telecommunication Pakistan, Wise Communication, and Circle Net Communication (Pvt) Ltd. Allegations suggest they operated for months using expired licenses, defrauding the national treasury. The financial breakdown reveals Rs 16.7 billion in principal dues and an additional Rs 42.2 billion in surcharges, highlighting the scale of alleged corruption.
This situation has sparked widespread scrutiny, particularly concerning the roles of the Ministry of IT and PTA. Allegations have surfaced accusing officials of deliberately delaying the collection of dues, fueling suspicions of corruption and negligence.
In response, the Prime Minister has taken immediate action, resulting in the removal of the IT Secretary. This move follows recommendations from the Law Division, which previously advised against renewing the licenses of defaulting operators.
The scandal has deepened with accusations of money laundering against the telecom companies, involving the transfer of substantial funds abroad through illegal channels like Hawala Hundi. Additionally, a senior PTA official admitted that the Sindh High Court has directed the authority to resolve the issue promptly. However, claims persist that similar cases were deliberately delayed in the past, further igniting suspicions of systematic corruption.
As the investigation unfolds, calls for a full-scale probe by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have intensified, seeking to address transparency and accountability within Pakistan’s telecommunications sector.
