PTCL to Clarify Property Sale Authority in Upcoming National Assembly Meeting

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) will be under the spotlight during the upcoming 13th meeting of the Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, scheduled for May 6, 2025. The main focus will be on PTCL’s authority to sell its properties, a topic drawing significant attention.

The National Assembly Secretariat announced that the 13th meeting of the Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication will convene on May 6, 2025, at Parliament House, Islamabad. One of the main agenda points is a comprehensive briefing by PTCL regarding the sales and purchase agreements of its properties. PTCL is expected to present relevant clauses and a complete list of its assets to clarify whether it holds the authority to sell its properties.

For context, the telecommunication company recently advertised the sale of one of its properties in Karachi. PTCL intends to sell a 13,583-square-yard (approximately 27 kanal) plot, adjacent to Jang Press, on I.I. Chundrigar Road in the Sindh capital. It has already invited expressions of interest from individuals, firms, and corporate entities till May 31, 2025.

Key Topics in Focus During the National Assembly Meeting

The meeting will also cover other critical topics, including the closure of internet services in Panjgur District, Balochistan, and the performance of digital skill programs like DigiSkills.pk. However, PTCL’s briefing remains a key highlight, as lawmakers seek transparency over the company’s property management practices.

In addition, representatives from the Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Interior, and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) are requested to attend. They are required to provide advance briefs for members’ review to ensure a productive discussion.

PTCL’s appearance at this session comes at a time when questions around public asset management and transparency are increasingly in the public eye, making the outcome of this discussion particularly significant.

The meeting comes nearly two weeks after PTCL CEO Hatem Bamatraf warned that further delay in Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP)’ decision regarding acquisition of Telenor Pakistan Pvt Ltd and Orion Towers may impact the agreement between the two companies.

According to the agreement the transactions regarding the acquisition were earlier set for December 2024, but due to delay, a new deadline of end June 2025 was set.