Telecom News Bulletin

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has intended to auction 3G licenses to mobile operators to generate Rs 60 billion in a bid to raise non-tax income during the financial year 2010-11, Business Recorder has learnt. At present, mobile companies have 2G licenses.

“The Ministry of Information and Technology (IT) is working on formulating the course of action to auction 3G licenses. According to sources after completion of the policy, five mobile companies operating in Pakistan would be offered 3G licenses. The officials want to give 2 to 3 licenses to mobile companies.

The Finance Ministry informed the Cabinet in the meeting on June 5 that in the 2008-09 budget non-tax receipts were estimated at Rs 513.6 billion. The revised estimates are projected at Rs 568.9 billion. For the year 2010-11 non-tax revenues are projected to Rs 632.3 billion. Profit of the State Bank of Pakistan was a major source of non-tax revenue receipts: budget estimates for ongoing financial year on these accounts were projected at Rs l50 billion but revised estimates showed a total of Rs 213 billion. An increase of Rs 63 billion was on account of surplus profit transferred by SBP from its reserve fund. The budget estimates for 2010-11 have been fixed at Rs 185 billion.

Non-tax receipts on account of dividend were estimated at Rs 75.2 billion in the budget 2009-10. However, due to provision of 12 percent on account of Benazir Employees Share Offer Scheme, revised estimates have been worked out at Rs 59. 1 billion. For the financial year 2010-11, dividend receipts have been projected at Rs 64.2 billion.

Via Business Recorder