PTA Announces Amendments in Consumer Protection Regulations

Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) announced amendments in consumer protection regulations. According to the authority the amended in “Telecommunication Consumer Protection Regulations, 2009″ are aimed to protect the consumer interests as mandated under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996.

PTA Announces Amendments in Consumer Protection Regulations

These regulations provide a mechanism with regard to launch of commercial practices and telecommunication promotional schemes by different operators. Following are some of the regulations to be followed by all the relevant entities.

• Under the amended law, all commercial activities which are against law cannot be launched by operators. They are also required to give at least ten working days notice to PTA before the launch of any promotional scheme.
• Telecom operators will have to inform PTA before launching commercial practices.
• It’s binding on operators to follow the prescribed manners by PTA to devise their commercial campaign.
• PTA may alter, restrict, suspend or impose of any commercial activity or telecommunication service promotional schemes if necessary. In that case operator will be responsible to provide title and key features of such activities to PTA.
• Operator will be responsible to provide an undertaking that the commercial practice and their telecom promotional schemes are in compliance with the Act, Rules, Regulations and all other laws of Pakistan.
• Under the new regulation, an undertaking regarding inclusion of key features of the offered telecom promotional schemes in print media which shall be published in at least one national and local-language newspaper each as well as on the licensee’s, website in a clear, transparent and nondiscriminatory manner.

Source: PTA

These amendments are surely going to safeguard the consumer rights and interests. While the operators are required to facilitate these consumers under these regulations.