Tag: PTA

Pakistan’s mobile phone imports surged by 29.6% to reach $1.295 billion during the first eight months of the 2025–26 fiscal year. While this represents a significant recovery from the previous year’s decline, domestic manufacturing is simultaneously hitting new heights, with local plants producing 30.21 million handsets in 2025—dwarfing the number of finished units brought in commercially. The data highlights a clear shift in the country's tech landscape, as smartphones now make up 71% of the devices on the national network. Despite a minor month-on-month dip in February, the overall trend points toward a rapidly digitizing economy supported by both a rebound in high-value imports and a robust local assembly sector.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has implemented the Mobile Tariff Regulations 2025 to enhance consumer protection and stabilize the telecom market. Under this new framework, major operators (SMPs) are now prohibited from revising prices without prior regulatory approval, while all networks must obtain explicit user consent before activating any paid Value-Added Services to eliminate "silent" balance deductions. To address service quality concerns, the PTA also confirmed a spectrum auction for March 2026, which will mandate infrastructure upgrades for faster data speeds and better coverage, balancing Pakistan's status as a low-cost data market with the need for sustainable network growth.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is launching a major renewal project to significantly upgrade its cybersecurity firewall. The project, which has an estimated budget range of Rs. 40 million to Rs. 120 million, will deploy Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) at its headquarters and regional offices. This upgrade aims to give the PTA enhanced control and resilience against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats targeting Pakistan's digital and telecom systems

Pakistan's Senate IT Committee is taking a firm stand against the FBR, decrying what it calls "crippling" taxes on e-commerce that stifle digital growth. The panel, led by Senator Palwasha Khan, is pushing for tax relief and improved telecom services, while also tackling issues from inadequate cellular coverage in rural areas to decades-old spectrum disputes.

A recent audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has revealed that telecom giant Jazz overcharged its customers by Rs6.58 billion during the 2023-24 fiscal year. The report blames both Jazz for its illegal billing practices and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for its “poor regulatory oversight,” which failed to prevent the unauthorized price hikes. This incident raises serious concerns about consumer protection in a market where a single player, like Jazz, holds a dominant position.