ISLAMABAD— A storm erupted in the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom as lawmakers grilled Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) over hefty dollar-denominated payments being drawn by serving government officials for merely attending board meetings a practice senators termed illegal, immoral and in blatant violation of the Prime Minister’s explicit orders.
The committee session turned confrontational when PTCL officials were summoned to explain the perks, privileges and meeting fees enjoyed by PTCL board members, particularly those representing the government.
PTCL’s Defence Falls Flat
PTCL representatives attempted to downplay the issue, claiming that “standard perks” were not structured in an unusual manner.
However, under intense questioning, they admitted that board members are paid a fixed fee per meeting.
That admission triggered outrage.
“HOW ARE GOVT EMPLOYEES TAKING $8,000?”
Committee Chairperson Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan raised the most damning question of the session, objecting sharply to foreign-currency payments being made to government servants.
“If these are government employees, how are they taking $8,000 for attending a meeting?”
She categorically stated that receiving such payments while holding public office is unacceptable, unethical and against the spirit of public service.
Prime Minister’s Orders Openly Defied
Adding fuel to the fire, Senator Saadia Abbasi reminded the committee that the matter had already been taken up at the highest level.
She disclosed that:
Federal Law Minister, on behalf of the Prime Minister, had issued strict instructions to halt excessive board payments.
A clear cap of Rs. 1 million (10 lakh) per person was imposed.
Prime Minister explicitly ordered that any amount taken beyond Rs. 1 million must be returned to the national treasury.
Senator Palwasha then posed the question that echoed across the committee room:
“Has anyone returned the money yet?”
PTCL officials had no clear answer.
WHO IS CASHING IN?
Under further scrutiny, PTCL officials confirmed that four government representatives currently sit on the PTCL board:
Three Federal Secretaries
One Federal Minister from the Ministry of Economic Affairs
When pressed for details, PTCL officials confirmed that the Federal Minister is Ahad Cheema.
The committee expressed deep scepticism over how such massive dollar payments could coexist with the Prime Minister’s Rs. 1 million ceiling, raising serious questions about compliance, accountability and concealment.
THE UNFINISHED CRIME OF PTCL PRIVATISATION
The controversy also reopened old wounds surrounding PTCL’s ill-conceived and uncalculated privatisation.
It was pointed out that:
PTCL’s privatisation deal with Etisalat deliberately excluded immovable assets.
Prime properties, plots and buildings at the most lucrative locations, including PTCL’s own Head Office, were never transferred.
This selective privatisation allowed the state to lose control of operations without realising the full value of national assets, while perks and privileges for board members continue unchecked.
QUESTIONS THAT REFUSE TO GO AWAY
Who authorised dollar-based payments to serving government officials?
Why were the Prime Minister’s orders ignored?
Has any excess amount actually been returned to the treasury?
And how long will PTCL’s flawed privatisation shield elite beneficiaries at the cost of the public?
The Senate committee is expected to pursue the matter further, but for now, PTCL stands exposed not just for questionable payments, but for a privatisation model that continues to bleed accountability.
