MOITT Promise of New Telecom Policy Still Continues

Yes, Pakistan is the only country in the world where decisions are made in a Ministry without any Telecom Policy even after more than two years of struggles. Hopes have been once again aroused as Ministry of State for Information Technology Mrs Anusha Rahman on Tuesday said that:

“Endeavours were in place to introduce the draft of telecommunications policy soon with particular focus on promoting latest trends and services.”

She also said that:

“In view of new trends the ministry of IT had proposed spectrum trading, spectrum reforming, over the top (OTT) as well as satellite services in the policy which were not part of the previous telecom policy.”

MOITT Promise of New Telecom Policy Still Continues

In an exclusive talk with Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) at GSMA seminar here, the Minister while focusing on the benefits of the policy also added that it would give them a stage to flourish for next five years.

The seminar “Building Digital Societies: Making Commerce Smarter” was organised in collaboration with mobile phone operators Mobilink, Ufone, Telenor, Zong, Warid and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

With regard to satellite services, she said Pakistan possessed Paksat-1 which could be utilised to ensure communication services in far-flung areas of the country, but this required regulatory framework which had been proposed in the policy so that these services can be provided under rules.

Also Read: MoITT 2 Years Performance: Still No ICT Policy

Anusha Rahman said that:

“The policy would also enable and encourage local manufacturing, content and application development and added that the policy would also be aimed at achieving universally available and affordable telecom services to all users to benefit economy and society.”

A well governed ICT Ministry should have come with its much needed National ICT Policy in the first four months of its formation but MOITT fails to deliver ICT Policy even after 2 Years. The national ICT Policy document, should have been delivered on priority bases as one would have expected from the present Government that claims to be business friendly Government. Unfortunately, we still don’t have any National ICT Policy after 2 years of the present Government. Hope so the Ministry is soon able to devise a good policy.

Also Read: MoITT fails to deliver ICT Policy even after 2 years