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Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited
(Annual Report 1997)
CONTENTS
Company's Information
Notice of 2nd Annual General Meeting
Directors' Report
Auditors' Report to the Members
Balance sheet
Profit and Loss Account
Cash flow Statement
Notes to the Accounts
Statement Under Section 237 of Companies Ordinance, 1984
Pattern of Shareholding
Subsidiaries Accounts
COMPANY'S INFORMATION
Board of Directors
Naseem S. Mirza (Chairman)
Shiekh Inamul Haque
Mueen Afzal
Fazlullah Qureshi
Zafar All Khan
Maj. Gen. Shahzada Alam Malik
S.A.H. Naqvi
Mujahid Uwais Agra
Shaukat R. Mirza
Bashir Ahmad
Company's Management
Naseem S. Mirza (Chief Executive)
S.A.H. Naqvi (Member Technical)
Mujahid Uwais Agha (Member Finance)
Khalid Amin (Member Administration)
Izhar Hussain (DG Plans)
Syed Mahmood Ahmad (DG Operations)
Akhtar Ahmad Bajwa (DG International Communications)
A.W. Awan (DG Customer Services)
Mushtaq Ahmed Bhatti (DG TT & R)
Noor-uddin Baqai (CE PSP)
Muhammad Nehmatullah (Chief Accounts Officer)
S.N.K.A. Ghaznavi (GM Finance)
Company Secretary
Pervaiz ljaz Shiekh
Auditors
A.F. Ferguson & Co.,
Chartered Accountants
Legal Advisors
Farrukh Jawad Panni, Barrister-at-Law
Dr. Sajid Qureshi, Barrister-at-Law
Bankers
ABN-AMRO Bank
ANZ Grindlays Bank Ltd.
Bank of America
Bankers Equity Ltd.
Citibank N.A.
Deutche Bank
Faysal Bank Ltd.
Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd.
National Bank of Pakistan
Standard Chartered Bank
Lasalle Bank, N.Y.
Company Registrar
Khalid Majid Hussain Rehman & Co.,
K-16, Block # 6, PECHS,
Karachi - 75530
Tel: + 92 21 111 - 414141, Fax: + 92 21 452-7076
Registered Office
Headquarters G-8/4, Islamabad
Te1:+9251263732 111-101010
Fax:+9251263733 111-191919
E.Mail: chepsp@paknet.ptc.pk
NOTICE OF SECOND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Second Annual General Meeting of Pakistan Telecommunication Company
Limited (PTCL) will be held at Auditorium, National Library of Pakistan, Constitution Avenue, Islamabad, on
Tuesday 23rd December, 1997 at 9.00 a.m. to transact the following Business:
Ordinary Business
1. To approve the minutes of the First Annual General Meeting.
2. To receive, consider and adopt the Audited Accounts for the year ended 30th June, 1997, together with the
Auditors' and Directors' reports.
3. To approve the dividend as recommended by the Board of Directors.
4. To appoint Auditors for the year ending 30th June 1998 and to fix their remuneration. The retiring Auditors
M/s A.F. Ferguson & Co. being eligible, offer themselves for appointment.
5. To transact any other business with the permission of the Chair.
By order of the Board
Pervez Ijaz Sheikh
Islamabad: 2nd December, 1997 Secretary
Notes:
1. Any member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at this Meeting may appoint any person as his/her
proxy to attend and vote instead of him/her. Proxies in order to be effective must be received by the
Company at the Registered Office not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for holding the meeting.
2. Share Transfer Books of the Company will remain closed from 9th December, 1997 to 23rd December, 1997
(both days inclusive) for the purposes of the Second Annual General Meeting.
3. Members are requested to notify any change in address immediately.
DIRECTORS' REPORT
The Directors take pleasure in presenting their Report together with the Audited Accounts of Pakistan Telecommunication
Company Limited for the year ended 30 June, 1997.
Company's Overview
PTCL is the primary provider of telecommunication facilities in Pakistan. Its services include basic telecom facilities like
telephone, telegraph, fax and the more modem ones like, Public Data Network, Universal Access Numbers, Internet, E-mail and
ISDN.
The Company has a monopoly on domestic and international fixed line services till December 2002. It maintains and runs a state-
of-the-art international subscribers dialling system comprising of digital gateway exchanges operating through satellite earth
stations and submarine cables. The Company has achieved a digitalization ratio of almost 80% of total network, which is one of
the highest in the Region. It also manufactures and markets telecommunication equipment through its subsidiaries, namely
Telephone Industries of Pakistan (TIP) and Carrier Telephone Industries (CTI).
The authorized share capital of PTCL is Rs 150 billion divided into 11,100,000,000 "A" class ordinary shares of Rs 10/- each and
3,900,000,000 "B" class ordinary shares of Rs 10/- each. The "A" and "B" classes ordinary shares rank pari-passu in all respects
except that each "B" class ordinary share has four voting rights per share. The Company has an issued and paid-up capital of
Rs.51 billion divided into 3,774,000,000 "A" class ordinary shares and 1,326,000,000 "B" class ordinary shares. The "A" class
ordinary shares are listed on all the stock exchanges of Pakistan while the "B" class ordinary shares, reserved for strategic
investors, are presently held by the Government of Pakistan.
Financial Performance
The Company, in its first full financial year of operations, earned a revenue of Rs 40,594 million against Rs 18,677 million for the
six months ended 30 June, 1996. On a proportionate basis, there is an increase of 8.67% over the last accounting period.
During the year under review, PTCL, through its policy of cost controls, limited its expenditure to 59.75% of revenue. This is 3.53
percentage points less than the last reporting period figure of 63.28%. In absolute terms, operating expenses were Rs 24,254
million for the�year ended 30 June, 1997 as against Rs 11,818 million for the six months ended 30 June 1996.
The operating profit of the Company for the financial year 1996- 97 is Rs 16,340 million. This is 40.25% of total revenue and
compares favourably with the operating profit of Rs 6,860 million (36.72%) for the six months ended 30 June, 1996. The net
profit, after adjustment of other income of Rs 1,241 million and financial charges of Rs 5,397 million, is Rs 12,184 million as
compared to Rs 3,841 million of the last reporting period. The Company achieved an EBITDA of Rs 25,000 million and an
Earning per Share of Rs 2.39.
Total assets stood at Rs 116,146 million as on 30 June, 1997 as compared to Rs 104,184 million on 30 June, 1996. The gross
operating fixed assets were Rs 102,167 million on 30 June, 1997 as compared to Rs 98,813 million on 30 June, 1996.
Appropriation of Profits
Your Directors are pleased to propose the following appropriation of the profit achieved during the year:-
Rupees in
Millions
Profit for the year 12,184
Un-appropriated profit brought forward 780
----------
Profit available for appropriation 12,964
Appropriations:
Interim dividend @ 7.5% 3,825
Proposed final dividend @ 10% 5,100
Transfer to general reserve 4,000
----------
12,925
----------
Un-appropriated profit carried forward 39
==========
Transformation of Accounting System
As mentioned in last year's report, PTCL has continued its extensive exercise to overhaul the accounting set-up in order to develop
an efficient and reliable system that will enable the generation of correct and timely accounting information. Concerted efforts of
management and staff have enabled the finalization of the audited accounts for the year ended 30 June, 1997 within a much
reduced time schedule. The Directors take pride in this achievement and commend the efforts of the management and staff who
made this possible. The accounting and management set-up of the Company still requires extensive structural changes in order to
modernize its systems to comply with international standards and to enable the management to use the financial information as a
reliable tool for monitoring of performance and future planning.
Technical Performance
Domestic Telecommunications
Over the last five years, capacity has expanded by 2 1/2 times and conversion of analogue to digital switching has accelerated.
The Company has been striving to clear pending demand but due to mismatch problems, the network has not grown uniformly.
This has resulted in the waiting list to increase to 320,000 lines.
Innovation remained the driving force for management policies. Efforts were made to adopt new ways of communication at lower
cost with greater speed. The potentials of digital switching, fiber optics, satellite communication and intelligent computer
networks are being exploited to offer new services in line with global standards.
PTCL has also embarked upon a mixed approach for expansion of telecom services by harmonized efforts of the public and
private sectors. Policies for modernization, liberalization and promotion of private sector participation were adopted. PTCL, as a
prime public sector organization, has accepted the challenge of the 21st century. It continues to acquire the latest technology with
ancillary know-how in various fields of business. PTCL is also striving hard to introduce a corporate culture among its ranks and
expects to make further progress in providing a spectrum of modern and useful value added services to its customers in major
business centres of the country through its digital intelligent network. Universal Access Number (UAN) 0800 and other modern
services were introduced for the business sector to help it in entering the domain. of Telemarketing.
Private Sector Projects
In view of the liberalization policy being followed by the Government of Pakistan, there are new opportunities for private
investors to enter the telecom sector for which certain services of PTCL are being utilized. The Government of Pakistan has issued
licences for the manufacture, marketing and operation of certain Telecom equipment and services. The private sector has
responded well and so far investment of over Rs. 8.0 billion has been made in telecom services. Sectors and services that already
stand de- regulated in which PTCL's infrastructure/network facilities are being utilized:
* Card Operated Pay Phone Service
* Cellular Mobile Telephone Service
* Paging Service
* Trunked Radio Taxi Cab Service
* Data Network Service
* Electronic Mail Service
* Satellite Network
* Audiorex Service
* Voice Mail Service
* Manufacture of Exchanges/PABXs
* Manufacture of Terminal Equipment.
Efforts of the private sector have been encouraging as cellular mobile, card pay phone, radio paging services and manufacturing of
digital exchanges, PABXs, terminal equipment and other items are successfully flourishing in a healthy competitive environment
that is contributing positively to Pakistan's economy.
Service Improvement
The continuing process for digitalizing international switching and transmission systems will go a long way in improving service
and enhancing international revenue. Increasing digitalization ratio has benefited customers with improved services and
modernistic features of digital technology.
PTCL has achieved a better call completion rate and lowering of fault levels. Faults have fallen from 25 per 100 to 20 per 100 per
month and PTCL is making every effort to further bring it down to 10. The call completion rate has improved from 38% to about
42% during the year. Better and prompt attention is the motto and the Company is trying to meet the challenge of responsibility of
customer care.
For efficient management of switching systems the Operation, Maintenance and Network Management Centres are being manned
round the clock. The management of transmission network in Multi-exchange areas is centralized through transmission NMCs.
These centres are functioning at Karachi/Lahore and new centres established at Faisalabad, Islamabad, Gujranwala and Multan
shall also be manned in 1997-98. Computerization of inventory control creation of database for M.I.S. was also started to improve
stores accounting.
Customer Services
With the introduction of Customer Service Centres at various places in major cities, the service regarding billing, delivery and
collection is improving. Modern telecommunication technology and new systems are immediately needed to achieve targets for
enhancing the potential and reliability of the Billing System. Subscribers are being provided with duplicate bills at the Customer
Service Centres with the facility to make payments on the spot. To improve directory assistance, a centralized and computerized
directory assistance system has been established at Lahore for directory enquiry service. At Karachi, the directory assistance
service has been partially computerized. As of June 1997 more than 70 Customer Centres are in service and another 42 Centres
are due for completion during the current year. Computerization of fault management system is also planned for major cities in the
country.
Although there has been some improvement in most areas, PTCL still has a long way to go in meeting the demands of Customers
particularly in the handling of 17, 18, billing and fault management. Customers must appreciate that the Company needs a cultural
change in its attitude towards the public and every attempt is being made to achieve this goal - a task not easy in the current
environment.
International Communications
The Company provides international telecommunication services around the globe from any location in Pakistan. The service is
extended to over 200 countries with the help of three International Gateway Exchanges located at Karachi and Islamabad. At
present about 4,570 international circuits are operational, supporting voice, fax, telex, telegraph, low and high speed data services.
International lease lines are being provided to private sector providers and corporate entities. There are three Standard "A" Earth
Stations, one F-3 and F-1 stations situated at Dehmandro in Karachi, Mallach in Islamabad and other places. 40 major countries
are linked directly through these Earth Stations via INTELSAT Satellite. Submarine Cable and other terrestrial links. The access
to other 160 countries is available indirectly. Currently, satellite links with USA, UK, Kuwait, Japan, Singapore, Italy, Norway,
Canada and South Korea have been digitalised using DCME and IDR systems. Satellite links with the rest of the countries will be
fully digitalised by early 1998. A 1,200 channel submarine cable is operating between Pakistan-UAE with 800 circuits reserved to
handle international traffic to UK and USA. One 1,800 channel coaxial cable operates between Lahore-Amritsar to handle
telephone traffic with India. A microwave link connects Pakistan with Iran and Turkey through 116 channels. Similarly a 72
channel UHF link exists with Afghanistan.
With the increased digitalization of the satellite links to major destinations and installation of digital cross-connect system in the
country network, PTCL is now providing international lease lines to support transfer of data upto 2 Mega bytes to facilitate high
speed internet access. The Government of Pakistan has given licences to about 40 companies in the private sector for operation of
data, internet and E-mail services, these operators are being provided international data lines by PTCL to switch high speed traffic
for growing business needs. PTCL has plans to establish Teleport Earth Stations to provide international services to meet the
demand of companies for the export of software, and international and national data switched to expand the internet facilities
expansion to cater for high speed data requirements. PTCL is investing in SEA-ME-WE-III (a Submarine Optic Fiber Cable
Project) and the ICO Satellite Project to connect the country with the international information superhighway systems. Work is
underway to install a hub/back bone for providing intelligent data servicing. In addition to internet expansion, the new value
added services i.e. voice mail, CLIP, CLAIR etc. are likely to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
The Company is fully aware of the threat from the reduction in international call charges after FCC bench-marking and the
possibility of internet telephony by 1998-99. Accordingly PTCL is adopting a multi-dimensional strategy to fight the threat of
reduced settlements and is taking counter measures to dilute the impact on its revenues. International telephone traffic around the
globe is growing by about 12% every year. In comparison, the growth rate of Pakistan's International Telecom Traffic has always
remained higher and has averaged 16% during the last five years.
Staff and Management
The Directors of the Company take this opportunity to thank PTCL employees who have put in great efforts for achieving the
desired results. Relations with the CBA continued to be cordial. The satisfactory performance of the Company is the outcome of
the dedicated team work of all categories of staff and management. Efforts are being made to improve the productivity and
efficiency of the Company while emphasis is also being placed on effective management-employees relationship and better line of
communications to achieve corporate goals.
A voluntary separation of services scheme has been announced to reduce the numbers employed in the Company. Productivity per
employee needs to be improved to bring it substantially in line with international standards.
Auditors of the Company
The present auditors Messers A.F. Ferguson & Company, Chartered Accountants, retire and being eligible, offer themselves for
reappointment.
Pattern of Shareholding
A statement showing the pattern of holding of shares as at 30 June, 1997 is annexed.
Future Outlook
To avoid mismatches in the switching equipment network and to accelerate the pace of development, the Company is focusing its
attention on streamlining the planning process. Large scale digitalization and a modern network remains the target of the
Company. Almost 97% of the new lines added this year comprised of state-of-the-art digital systems. The Nation-wide Direct
Dialling facility has now been extended to more than 700 stations. The first Optic Fibre Link between Karachi and Islamabad was
further extended to Peshawar in 1996. The second alternate Optic Fibre Cable from Karachi to Islamabad is on a fast track and
targeted for completion in early 1998, which should immensely improve network performance.
In the last report, the Directors had emphasised that the higher rate of Central Excise Duty was the main factor for retardation of
growth in the telecom sector and that it placed too-high a burden on consumers. PTCL, accordingly proposed a reduction in the
rates of the then Central Excise Duty. The Government accepted this proposal and a reduction was announced in the national
budget for 1997-98. This reduction of the rate from 40% to 25% is expected to have a positive impact on revenue growth.
Furthermore a tariff reform package, the very first since 1991, proposed by the PTCL Board was approved and implemented on 01
July 1997. It is expected that the growth in revenue generation will accelerate at a higher rate as compared to the previous year. It
needs to be mentioned that the PTCL tariff is still the lowest in the region.
In August 1997 PTCL borrowed US$ 250(M) from the American financial market against securitization of its international future
receivables from US and European carriers i.e. AT&T, MCI, US Sprint, British Telecom, Mercury, Deutche Telecom. The term of
the loan is six years including a one year grace period at a very competitive rate of 8.42% (225 basis points above US Treasury
Bills). This securitization has established PTCL's presence and recognition in the international financial markets.
Your Directors believe that the Company is playing an important role in supporting the national economy by rapidly increasing
telecommunication facilities. A demand based expansion plan has been prepared to meet the requirements of its customers and
optimize capacity utilization to improve profitability and shareholder value. Further emphasis will be laid on quality of services,
reduced response time to complaints, improvement in fault management and billing system to enhance and achieve efficiency and
customer satisfaction.
For and on behalf of the Board
(NASEEM S. MIRZA)
Islamabad: 15 October, 1997 Chairman and Chief Executive
AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS
We have audited the annexed balance sheet of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited as at June 30, 1997 and the related
profit and loss account and the cash flow statement, together with the notes forming part thereof, for the year ended June 30, 1997
and we state that we have obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were
necessary for the purposes of our audit and, after due verification thereof, we report that:
(a) in our opinion, proper books of account have been kept by the company as required by the Companies Ordinance, 1984;
(b) in our opinion:
(i) the balance sheet and profit and loss account together with the notes thereon have been drawn up in
conformity with the Companies Ordinance, 1984 and are in agreement with the books of account and are
further in accordance with accounting policies consistently applied;
(ii) the expenditure incurred during the year was for the purpose of the company's business; and
(iii) the business conducted, investments made and expenditure incurred during the year were in accordance with
the objects of the company;
(c) in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the balance sheet, profit
and loss account and the cash flow statement, together with the notes forming part thereof, give the information required
by the Companies Ordinance, 1984, in the manner so required and respectively give a true and fair view of the slate of
the company's affairs as at June 30, 1997 and of the profit and the cash flow for the year then ended; and
(d) in our opinion Zakat deductible at source under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance, 1980, was deducted by the company and
deposited in the Central Zakat Fund established under section 7 of that Ordinance.
A.F. Ferguson & Co.
Lahore: 2 October, 1997 Chartered Accountants
BALANCE SHEET AS AT JUNE 30, 1997
Note 1997 1996
(Rs in 000)
SHARE CAPITAL ANS RESERVES
Authorised share capital
11,100,000,000 "A" class ordinary shares of Rs 10 each 111,000,000 111,000,000
3,900,000,000 "B" class ordinary shares of Rs 10 each 39,000,000 39,000,000
---------- ----------
150,000,000 150,000,000
========== ==========
Issued, subscribed and paid up capital 3 51,000,000 51,000,000
General reserve 4,000,000 --
Unappropriated profit 39,353 780,565
---------- ----------
55,039,353 51,780,565
REDEEMABLE  CAPITAL 4 3,503,358 3,987,015
LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED LIABILITIES
Long term loans and other borrowings 5 14,528,192 14,354,745
Employees retirement benefits and other obligations 6 4,592,753 5,883,955
Long term security deposits from subscribers 1,200,803 1,110,803
---------- ----------
20,321,748 21,349,503
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current portion of Redeemable capital 4 1,086,354 854,435
Long term loans and other borrowings 5 1,924,238 2,089,527
Employees retirement benefits and other 
obligations 6 2,440,793 2,481,534
Short term borrowings 7 10,049,851 7,820,229
Creditors, accrued and other liabilities 8 9,795,611 10,761,300
Dividend payable 11,985,000 3,060,000
---------- ----------
37,281,847 27,067,025
---------- ----------
CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS 9 116,146,306 104,184,108
========== ==========
FIXED CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Operating fixed assets- tangible 10 64,848,924 68,897,578
Capital work-in-progress 11 20,699,382 11,797,468
---------- ----------
85,548,306 80,695,046
LONG TERM INVESTMENTS 12 1,357,618 1,046,787
LONG TERM LOSS 13 1,059,399 975,555
LONG TERM DEPOSITS, PREPAYMENTS AND
DEFERRED COST 14 234,383 --
CURRENT ASSETS
Stores and spares 15 5,963,741 3,333,847
Trade debts 16 11,351,571 10,535,202
Loans, advance, deposits, prepayments  &
other receivables 17 6,442,929 5,023,970
Cash and bank balances 18 4,188,359 2,573,701
---------- ----------
27,946,600 21,466,720
---------- ----------
116,146,306 104,184,108
========== ==========
Chairman Director
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR TO JUNE 30, 1997
December
Year to 31, 1995
June 30, to June
1997 30, 1996
Note   (Rupees in thousand)
Revenue 19 40,593,861 18,677,328
Operating costs 20 24,253,830 11,817,572
---------- ----------
Operating profit 16,340,031 6,859,756