Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar gave these directions when a three-member Etisalat/PTCL delegation comprising Walid Irshaid, President/CEO-PTCL, Jamal Jarwan, CEO-Asia-Etisalat and Abdul Rahim Nooryani, Chairman Etisalat Pakistan paid a courtesy call on him here on Friday.
Abdul Rahim Nooryani, Chairman Etisalat Pakistan while talking to Finance Minister congratulated Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif on assumption of his office and expressed their sincere wishes for government and people of Pakistan.
Nooryani said that they have come to this meeting with full confidence that transparency, merit and sincerity are the hallmarks of this government.
During the meeting Senator Ishaq Dar raised the issue of receivables of $800 million from Etisalat and apprised delegation that this government felt that this issue should be resolved in the spirit of brotherly relations that exist between Pakistan and UAE.
Senator Ishaq Dar appraised the delegation that the present financial situation in Pakistan demanded an early settlement of this long standing issue so that this receivable can ease the foreign exchange situation of Pakistan.
Senator Ishaq Dar said that we want a fair, transparent and equitable resolution based on established commercial rules as this was a commercial transaction.
The Etisalat/PTCL delegation said that the last seven years they have been making serious efforts to get the titles of the 131 properties transferred after which the outstanding payments due towards Pakistan could be paid.
Senator Ishaq Dar impressed upon the delegation that issues pertaining to properties would be resolved and he will take personal interest in the matter. Senator Ishaq Dar informed the delegation that the government has recently concluded agreement with IMF, settled outstanding dues of Private Power Producers and he has made a commitment on floor of the National Assembly to bring an early resolution for the receivables from Etisalat.
Dilating upon the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the economic development of the country, Senator Ishaq Dar said that we are confident that we will steer the country out of the present financial situation and micro economic imbalances by embanking on a policy of zero tolerance for corruption and transparency in all our transactions.
Senator Ishaq Dar said that we will resolve this issue with Etisalat and “where there is a will there is a way”. We need some out of the box thinking on fast track basis.
The Etisalat delegation assured the Finance Minister that they see Pakistan as a country ripe with opportunities and would go back and report the feelings of Government of Pakistan.
The delegation also invited the Finance Minister to visit UAE which he accepted and said that UAE is his second home, reiterating that Pakistan wants to further strengthen its existing relations with UAE.
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