New committee to supervise 3G auction

Committee will comprise media, civil society, NAB, telecom experts.

ISLAMABAD:

After reports of alleged kickbacks in hiring of consultants for supervising auction of billion-dollar 3G telecom licences, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf constituted an oversight committee to monitor the transaction.

This was decided at a meeting of 3G Auction Supervisory Committee chaired by the premier held at the PM House.

The committee having representatives from the media, civil society, National Accountability Bureau, technical experts and an economist had been constituted despite an Auction Supervisory Committee working under the Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh already in place. This highlighted that the supervisory committee had failed to perform its job, providing an opportunity to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to exploit the loopholes.

People of repute, standing and impeccable integrity will now be associated with the Oversight Committee to ensure transparency and due process at every cost. “I stand guarantee as the prime minister that not a single penny will be embezzled,” he affirmed.

Ashraf said that 3G was a valuable asset which will boost the economy, encourage foreign investment and promote economic activity in the country.

A presentation was made by International Consultants including Spectrum Valuation Expert Dr Rob Nicholis, Auction Design Expert Dennis Ward, Auction Software Expert Marton Semis, through videoconferencing from Canada, Australia and England.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2012.