The sale of control in Telikom PNG to the African company Econet Wireless Limited has been blocked by the Papua New Guinea Parliament.
The Postcourier reports in a motion moved by MP Arthur Somare, 55 MPs - including some government MPs, voted to stop the 51 per cent sale of State-owned assets "in its current form".
Only 19 MPs voted for the privatisation process to go ahead.
The block by MPs on the privatisation program also put in doubt the Government's policy on private public partnership on State assets which has been continuously pushed by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and State Enterprises and Information Minister Dr Puka Temu.
