Mobile Phone Installment Scheme – What’s the update?

Recently, a credible source informed us that a formal letter has been dispatched to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications (MoITT). In the letter, MoiTT directed the PTA to use existing policy frameworks for the mobile installment scheme. The ministry has also urged the utilization of the Device Identification Registration & Blocking System (DIRBS), already operating for the registration of phones and the blocking of non-registered phones. It will assist the authorities in targeting defaulters on the mobile installment scheme.

Moreover, the MoiTT has clarified that no new policy directives are required from the federal government. The ministry is now waiting for a response from the PTA before proceeding further.

The mobile phone installment scheme, initially drafted in November 2023 during the tenure of the Caretaker government, has faced several hiccups in its journey towards approval. The federal cabinet returned the policy, directing the IT ministry to consult with the Ministries of Law and Finance for further refinement before resubmission.

The mobile phone installment scheme aims to empower citizens, specifically those with limited financial means, by offering them the opportunity to purchase mobile phones through interest-free installment plans. The proposed policy also addresses the issue of defaulters who fail to meet their installment obligations.