DUBAI (July 02 2010): Etisalat wants outstanding land sales in its buy of Pakistan Telecommunications Co deducted from the deal value, a letter to the Pakistan government seen by Reuters showed, although an official rebuffed the idea. United Arab Emirates-based telco Etisalat has been locked in a dispute over the $2.6 billion buy of a 26-percent stake in the Pakistani firm since 2006, due to complications over land sales linked to the deal.
Etisalat International Pakistan (EIP) has paid only $1.8 billion so far, as it awaits the transfer of the land, and in a June 20 letter seen by Reuters, it sought to deduct the value of the land yet to be transferred, estimated at some $450 million. In the letter, EIP asked the Pakistani government to suggest a cut-off date for the deduction and receive the balance of the payment.
However, a Pakistani official told Reuters on Thursday, under the condition of anonymity, that it would "not accept any discounts" on the outstanding $800 million, although it would accept an initial $500 million and the balance at a later date. "The remaining properties are private and not linked to the government at all, that's why it's taking more time," the official said, declining to give a date when he expected the land transfers to be finalised.
The deal included the transfer of some 3,000 properties mainly located in the Punjab and Sindh provinces to Etisalat, of which 93 percent had been handed over, a government official told Reuters in December. Etisalat could not immediately be reached for comment.
However, a Pakistani official told Reuters on Thursday, under the condition of anonymity, that it would "not accept any discounts" on the outstanding $800 million, although it would accept an initial $500 million and the balance at a later date. "The remaining properties are private and not linked to the government at all, that's why it's taking more time," the official said, declining to give a date when he expected the land transfers to be finalised.
The deal included the transfer of some 3,000 properties mainly located in the Punjab and Sindh provinces to Etisalat, of which 93 percent had been handed over, a government official told Reuters in December. Etisalat could not immediately be reached for comment.
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