Chairman PTA is untraceable?

Chairman PTA – Farooq Ahmad Awan

Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Farooq Awan is ‘not in contact’ for last 12 days disclosed Secretary Information Technology  Aamir Tariq Zaman Khan while responding to National Assembly Standing Committee on IT last Monday.

It was noted in the committee meeting that Farooq Awan took number of decisions on his own without taking care of rules and regulation as defined in Telecom Act 1996. He is already facing number of allegations in National Assembly, Supreme Court and Lahore High Court.

In December 2012 Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication had termed the appointment of Farooq Awan as illegal and a sheer violation of rules. During the meeting the subcommittee had pin-pointed the fact that instead of choosing a senior member from the authority for the seat of chairman, government had selected Farooq Awan whose name is already involved in various scandals.

His appointment case is also being heard in Lahore High Court which has already barred him from  discharging tasks without the consent of authority (remaining members of PTA). “Technically, he has become a dysfunctional chairman”, an official of the PTA told on the condition of anonymity.

“Since his appointment in August 2012, Farooq Awan has not taken interest in the affairs of authority. All the departments at PTA directly report to him which according to Act should be answerable to authority other than routine administrative tasks “.

Sources at PTA have confirmed that during past 5 months Farooq Awan has brought in his close companions on number of top posts including DG Finance, DG Coordination, DG Audit. Similarly, all the departments including Enforcement, Law, Vigilance, Recovery, HR, Admin, Audit report him directly.

National Assembly Standing Committee on IT has already shown displeasure over the personal handling of financial matters by Chairman himself. Recently, Awan processed a cheque of Rs. 10 million in favor of 3G consultants through DG finance Iftikhar Ahmed.

In August-September,  he transferred the insurance amount of PTA employees to a ‘certain’ bank account through DG Finance bypassing the approval of authority.

Telecom related affairs are on stand still position and PTA seems to have become incapable of dealing with very basic matters. Every year in September, PTA publish annual telecom report for the assistance of existing and future investors, media and various government departments. For the year 2012, the report hasn’t been published even after 5 months have gone. Monthly industry statistics are not being updated on its website. Similarly, public relations department has forgotten to interact with media.

During his tenure, he only made announcements about three things, 3G auction in Pakistan, negotiation with Google for opening an office in the country, removal of unwanted and controversial content from YouTube. All three hit the doldrums and do not appear to be happening in near future.

We tried to take his version on the above matters but all our efforts proved futile in establishing a contact with him.