Islamabad, Dec 13: Government officials who serve on the Board of Directors (BoG) of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) are eligible to receive up to Rs. 1 million per year, according to information provided to the Senate of Pakistan. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, provided these details in response to inquiries about the board members’ pay and benefits.
In a written response to the Senate, the Minister said that the cap on government officials’ compensation is a component of the recommendations that the Finance Division released on July 10, 2024.
According to these regulations, yearly contributions exceeding PKR 1 million must be made to the government treasury. Officers must also keep thorough records of these deposits and report them to their respective ministries’ administration wing for compliance.
She clarified that the shareholder agreement between the Government of Pakistan and the strategic investor, Etisalat International Pakistan, governs the PTCL board structure. Etisalat has the authority to nominate five of the board’s nine directors, while the Federal Government may appoint four, including the chairman.
The written response states that government appointees to the PTCL board are compensated for their work, and that this compensation is tightly controlled to provide accountability and transparency. The rules guarantee that the government’s ownership stakes are safeguarded without undermining public confidence in the organization’s leadership.