National News

ISLAMABAD (MILLAT+APP): Senate Standing Committee on Information
Technology and Telecommunication on Wednesday recommended that
Privatization Commission should introduce strict laws for signing
agreements.
The committee met here at Parliament House under the chairmanship
Senator Shahi Syed. Members of the Committee including Senator
Rehman Malik, Senator Shibli Faraz, Senator Mufti Abdul Sattar,
Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi, Senator Naseema Ehsan, Senator Osman
Saifullah Khan and Senator Dr. Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi. Chairman
Privatization Commission Muhammad Zubair also attended the meeting.
The committee discussed in details the steps being taken by the
government for recovery of outstanding amount of US $800 million
from Etisalat pursuant to share purchase agreement made at the time
of privatization of PTCL.
The committee also recommended that the officials concerned should
brief the committee in camera meeting, adding that the officials of
Etisalat also be invited in the meeting. The committee further said
that the inquiry in this regard should be shared with the Committee.
The members of the committee demanded that responsibilities should
be fixed against the concerned officials for signing agreement and
the issue should be probed.
Chairman Privatization Commission Muhammad Zubair said that
National Accountibility Bureau (NAB) already conducted an inquiry
into the matter and report also shared with the Public Accounts
Committee. He said that Privatization Commission can send a request
to Etisalat to attend the meeting.