Pakistani telecos face mounting USF dues of over Rs76 billion

ISLAMABAD (Zubair Kasuri): A concerning report revealed that Pakistani Long Distance International (LDI) operators owe a staggering 76 billion rupees to the Universal Service Fund (USF).

The government fund, designed to ensure nationwide access to telecommunication services, faces a significant financial challenge due to these unpaid dues.

The report, which details outstanding amounts and late payment charges as of July 1st, 2024, shows that several major operators have failed to meet their financial obligations. This situation raises concerns about the USF’s ability to continue its mission of expanding telecommunication services to remote areas of Pakistan.

Here’s a breakdown of the top telecom operators

Worldcall: Rs7.98 billion
Redtone: Rs4.11 billion
ACLD: Rs3.87 billion
Telecard: Rs3.74 billion
Deodara: Rs2.57 billion
Wateen: Rs7.73 billion
Callmate: Rs3.85 billion
Witribe: Rs2.05 billion
4Gen: Rs6.23 billion
Multinet: Rs4.45 billion

As per the report, a copy of which is available with Daily Ausaf, many of these operators are approaching their license expiry dates. This raises further questions about the recoverability of the outstanding dues.

Industry experts are urging the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take immediate and decisive action to address this issue. The PTA has yet to issue a statement regarding the report or outline any planned measures to recover the outstanding funds.