PTA Hosts Regional Telecom Policy Meeting to Advance South Asian Regulatory Cooperation

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), has convened a regional meeting of telecommunications regulators in Islamabad to strengthen policy coordination and regulatory cooperation across South Asia.

The two-day meeting of the SATRC Working Group on Policy, Regulation, and Services (PRS), being held from July 1 to 2, brings together representatives from telecommunications administrations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Officials from the APT Secretariat and local stakeholders are also participating in the discussions.

The meeting marks the first gathering under the SATRC Action Plan Phase X (SAP-X), which was endorsed during the 26th South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC) meeting hosted by Pakistan in 2025.

In his virtual address, APT Secretary General Dr. Masanori Kondo commended PTA for hosting the event and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to promoting regional collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building among member administrations.

Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, PTA Member (Compliance and Enforcement) and Chair of the SATRC Working Group on Policy, Regulation, and Services, said the meeting would play an important role in advancing the objectives of SAP-X through coordinated policy and regulatory initiatives across the region.

Addressing the participants, PTA Chairman and SATRC Chairman Maj. Gen. (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, HI (M), SI, welcomed the foreign delegates and described SATRC as an important regional forum for addressing shared telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) challenges. He encouraged delegates to move beyond formal discussions and exchange practical experiences on regulatory and operational issues facing member countries, with the aim of developing collaborative and effective regional solutions.

According to PTA, the meeting will feature technical presentations, discussions on emerging policy and regulatory issues, and the formulation of work plans for implementing the SATRC Action Plan Phase X. The outcomes are expected to support stronger regional cooperation in telecommunications regulation and contribute to harmonized policy approaches among participating countries.

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