An additional attempt to recoup Rs76 billion from LDI firms is unsuccessful.

Following the conclusion of an individual hearing before the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), another attempt to collect Rs76 billion in arrears from Long Distance and International (LDI) businesses was unsuccessful.

Until the Supreme Court issued its ruling, the LDI businesses would not pay. In principle, the PTA decided not to renew these companies’ licenses unless the arrears were paid.

Sources claim that Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman, the head of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, turned down the request for LDI businesses’ licenses to be temporarily and conditionally renewed. It was likely that the Law Ministry or the Prime Minister would be consulted by the Ministry of Information Technology.

The LDI firms had arrears of Rs52 billion and a principal of Rs24 billion. The corporations reportedly questioned the Rs24 billion principal sum and asserted that the PTA’s computation was flawed.

They claimed that only Rs4 billion was the true main amount.

According to the LDI firms, the Act allows for a maximum penalties of Rs35 million. It is unacceptable to add billions of rupees to this.

Additionally, they requested a temporary renewal of the licenses for a duration of two to four years. They asked that the case be reexamined in the event that the court’s ruling was still delayed.

In response, Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman said, “Licenses cannot be renewed unless all arrears are paid. The PTA cannot act on its own and has no power to waive fines.

Sources claim that the Ministry of Information Technology also refrained from taking an impartial stance on LDI firms’ arrears. The PTA chairman believed that the federal cabinet’s direction and consent were necessary to find a solution to the problem.

According to sources, the matter concerning the payment of arrears would now be forwarded either to the Law Ministry or to the prime minister.