The government has constituted yet another committee to resolve the dispute over auction of third generation (3G) advanced services mobile phone licences.
The cabinet committee, which was constituted by the prime minister to examine the auction of 3G spectrum and the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) with Etisalat, met here on Friday with Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair.
Sources said that pros and cons of the auction of 3G spectrum were discussed during the meeting. It was decided that a subcommittee would be formed, which would look into the details of the matter.
They said that there were differences over the interpretation of an agreement between Pakistan and the international telecom player reached at the time of the sale of shares of the state-owned
telecommunication company.
The telecom giant was of the opinion that Pakistan could not sell a new telecom licence for any spectrum until seven years, which would end in March 2013.
The government has taken the position that 3G licence is not something new, but actually an extension of existing services. It has also a different interpretation of the time limit.
The issue of the long distance and international (LDI) licence to China Mobile also came under discussion during the meeting. The finance minister said that the Ministry of Information Technology could negotiate with Etisalat for granting the licence to China Mobile.
With regard to the transfer of PTCL properties to the provinces and departments concerned, the meeting participants were told that out of 3,248 properties of PTCL, 3,101 properties had been transferred to the provinces and the departments concerned.
The finance minister directed the secretary of the Ministry of Information Technology to prepare a report about the rest of the properties, which would be sent to the prime minister for further action.
Shaikh also approved recommendations about the wireless local loop auction and its policy directives.
The finance secretary, Planning Commission’s deputy chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman and
senior officials from Etisalat and the Ministry of Information Technology were also present in the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2011.
COMMENTS (12)
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3G not come to pakistan world move 4G we are watting for 3G
India is greet and hear Gov respect to own people but pakistan gov is not respect to us
pakistani"sthat"s possebile to 2050 3G come to pakistan
Nice Spellings Ahmed Shah (rich8heart@hotmail.com).
aoa, i no that 3G has been com b4 6 yaer ago and it hasn't interudused till this moment in pakistan why do the gov. want us 2 bee just fool or mac us fool some time i feel my self and my contry which i love it more then any think that we r still in the ston age coz no electractiy no water 2 drink no food no good stady every think price is very haigh and we no that we have all the think which mace us 2 be a powrfull contry in world from evry feeld even but still we r bhaind and y coz never voot . so naw the election is near so all pakistan should voot means all the ppl how r abave 18 should voot to save pakistan and change pakistan and make it peecefull pakistan . Ahmed shah rich8heart@hotmail.com
ya . 3g intrduced in pakistan.
Yes 4g
3G is history. The government should move to auction 4G licenses now. There is much more bandwidth available on 4G and all cellular players can compete for it.
This may hurt the Wimax players of Wateen, Infinity, Qubee and Witribe but it is the best for the consumer.
^^^ It seems they are raising hands instead of voices.
@Timour: They are raising voices.
These stupid politician are ruining Pakistan. they just care about there benefits they give a damn about public. We are far behind the today's world already. And where on the earth a countries PM take decisions of these petty matters. grow up people. 12 year old boy is smarter then these politician .
@ Editor....what exactly does the picture have to do with the story ??