The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunications questioned Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) over $8,000 board fees and other allowances for its members.
PTCL’s legal advisor told the committee that board members do not receive extraordinary privileges, but are paid fees for attending board meetings, which officials said are limited.
The PTCL board includes four government-appointed members, three secretaries, and one federal minister for economic affairs, identified as Ahad Cheema by officials in response to Senator Saadia Abbasi’s query.
Senator Abbasi highlighted a directive from the federal minister of law, stating the Prime Minister capped board fees at PKR 10 lakh, and any excess should be returned to the national treasury.
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The committee pressed whether any member had returned excess fees, with the chairperson questioning why public servants receive $8,000 for a single meeting while already on a government salary.
Experts say the scrutiny underlines weak oversight on perks and allowances in Pakistan’s public sector, where multiple allowances on top of salaries can erode public trust and confidence.
For PTCL, the session emphasised the need for transparent reporting, independent audits, and strict adherence to federal caps to ensure accountability and ethical governance.
