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MPA (400+ posts)

PTCL model apply for the PIA privatisation
MT Report: On the plea of restructuring, Nawaz government is ready to handover national flying
carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to a Potential Strategic Investor at throw away
prices. Pakistans most important strategic national asset will be handedover to an international
competitor of the PIA by the Nawaz Sharif and associates as Public Private Partnership just
by offering him 25 30 per cent share of the airline, high placed sources disclosed Midway
Times.
Just after kicking off the deal, the proposed Potential Strategic Investor will take over the
driving seat of the airline. It is not necessary that it injects the contracted investment in the
airline, sources said.
The Pakistani government had privatised the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) on the
promise to bring investment and modernisation of the equipment but the buyer did not invest a
single penny in the KESC.
The government is going to apply the PTCL model in PIA that is more worst. In 2006, Pakistan
sold 26 per cent shares in PTCL to Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat for $2.6 billion along with
management control. Later on, the then government bowed to Etisalats demand of giving it 51
per cent voting rights despite having a 26 per cent stake.
After making initial payments, Etisalat withheld six tranches totalling $788 million following a
claim over 136 properties. The government has already transferred over 3,300 properties in the
name of PTCL but Etisalat is refused to pay $665 million on this account in violation of the
understanding reached with Pakistan authorities.
Now, the wizards of Nawaz Government Ishaq Dar, the finance minister and Shahid Khaqan
Abbasi, former chairman of PIAC and minister for petroleum and natural resources have done
all the spade work to apply this PTCL model over PIA.
Just to make PIA more profitabale for the proposed strategic investor, the federal government is
pumping money in the organisation. Recently, the federal government is approved Rs7 billion to
pay off the liabilities of vendors.
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