Audit authorities have held the Ministry of Information Technology and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) responsible for failing to recover more than Rs89 billion in dues from Long Distance International (LDI) companies.
According to the audit report, the PTA has been unable to collect the dues despite operating as a regulator for nearly two decades.
Many telecom operators continue doing business without renewing licenses or paying their obligations, raising serious concerns over regulatory oversight.
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The report rejected the claim that the cases were pending in courts, terming it “unjustified.” It added that treating legal proceedings as an excuse for non-recovery highlighted poor supervision by both the PTA and the IT Ministry.
Billions left unpaid in fees and contributions
The audit highlighted that LDI companies were required to pay multiple fees, including initial license costs, spectrum charges, and annual payments. However, the PTA failed to collect:
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Rs9.82 billion in annual, spectrum, and late payment fees
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Rs79.34 billion in contributions due to the IT Ministry, including the Universal Service Fund (USF)
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Over Rs1 billion in license renewal fees from various operators
The report concluded that the inability to enforce payments has not only weakened regulatory credibility but also deprived the national exchequer of critical revenue.
Audit authorities demand urgent recovery
Audit authorities have directed the PTA and IT Ministry to take immediate action and ensure recovery of the outstanding dues in collaboration.
The clarification provided by the institutions—that the cases remain pending in courts—was dismissed as insufficient, with authorities stressing that injunctions cannot justify a two-decade delay.
