Keen to see Etisalat participate in 3G licence auction: Prime Minister
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy excellent brotherly relations, which have been further strengthened by economic cooperation.
Raja expressed these views while talking to Etisalat delegation led by Group Chief Executive Officer Abdul Karim Ahmad Julfar at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday. He said that the auction of 3G Spectrum technology would increase the broadband connectivity in the country.
While encouraging Etisalat representatives to participate in the bidding process, the prime minister said, “We are very keen to see Etisalat participating in the auction of 3G Licence Spectrum.” The prime minister pointed out that the government had recently formed an oversight committee comprising people with impeccable integrity and repute to ensure transparency and fairness in the auction process.
Julfar said that Etisalat was a leading telecom operator globally and had a potential to invest considerably in the telecom sector of Pakistan. He further said that he saw Pakistan as a huge market.
He said Etisalat would like to improve the quality of broadband in Pakistan and informed the prime minister that his company intends to enhance its operations in the country.
Raja pointed out that there were some pending issues regarding sale of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd to Etisalat. He suggested that Etisalat nominate a team, which would sit with the representatives of the government of Pakistan to resolve issues within a specified time frame so that we could move forward. The prime minister assured the CEO that the government of Pakistan as part of its policy to encourage foreign investment shall extend all possible assistance to Etisalat.
The CEO said that the expansion of broadband was a key to development in the country and his company would be ready to invest in the telecom sector so that Pakistan could benefit in the process.
Those who attended the meeting included Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister of State and Board of Investment Chairman Salim Mandviwala and other senior officials of the government.
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