YouTube is likely to remain blocked in Pakistan for more time as recent talks between Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Google for blockade of anti-Islamic content in Pakistan have failed, told us sources familiar with the matter. Google, the parent company of YouTube, is reportedly not agreeing to block the access of anti-Islamic content in Pakistan and hence the government of Pakistan is going to maintain [...]

Mr. Nasrul Karim Ghaznavi, Member (Finance) of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is retiring today after serving eight years and completing his two service terms. Mr. Ghaznavi was appointed as Member Finance in 2005, after which he was granted second service term in 2009 on recommendations Dr. Yasin,then Chairman of PTA, as per PTA act. Mr. Ghaznavi’s stay at PTA remained smooth and seamless for first six [...]

The federal government is taking all possible measures to make sure the induction of its favourites as members and chairman in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), reports “The News”, while saying that it is evident from the series of advertisements published recently for hiring of the members of the authority. As we reported recently, the advertisements were published after the issuance of an SRO, which [...]

The consultants hired by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to auction the 3G mobile phone licenses have engaged lawyers to take legal action over the non-payment of their fees, said a joint statement issued by the consultants. Dr. Rob Nicholls from the Australian law firm Webb Henderson; Dennis Ward, the former spectrum auctioneer for the Canadian Spectrum Management Program; and Martin Sims from the spectrum [...]

Government of Pakistan has devised new regulations for the appointment of Chairman and members of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, we have confirmed with sources. An SRO was issued in this regard, according to which new regulations are in place now for the appointment of Chairman of PTA and the members of the body. Recent job advertisements of PTA members were published under the same new regulations. [...]

While scrapping its earlier advertisements, Cabinet Division has once again advertised the vacancies for members of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Job advertisement says that those candidates who had already applied against the posts of member finance and member technical — in response to earlier advertisements — will have to apply again. Interestingly, government has decided to hire three members (instead of two allowed members as per [...]

Telecom operators in Pakistan are likely to lose Rs. 35 billion per year in revenue due to ban on sale of new SIMs through retailers network as government has allowed the sale of the new connections only through company-owned service centres and franchises, reported Dawn News. Citing a source in Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the paper reported that new sales fell by 75 percent, which translated [...]

Telecom companies listed on Karachi Stock Exchange are getting their best time of the year, thanks to defunct International Clearing House a.k.a ICH. Before we even begin, let’s have a look at stock trends for various telecom operators (all indicators are as of 1 PM – Feb 7th, 2013): PTCL Wateen Telecom   TeleCard   WorldCall Stock transactions in past one month clearly show that [...]

Mr. Sajjad Latif Awan, former Director General (Enforcement) at PTA has moved to Islamabad High Court against his transfer orders that were issued by both the members of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Mr. Sajjad Latif Awan, along with other transferred employees including Mr. Faisal Bashir, former Director (Vigilance) appealed the court that transfer orders issued by Member Finance and Member Technical of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority were [...]

Uniformed and armed men, allegedly from Ministry of Interior (FIA), are said to have entered into Pakistan Telecommunication Authority headquarters today (at 4:30 PM) to forcefully arrest Mr. Nasrul Karim Ghaznavi, the member finance and Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, the member technical, we have confirmed with sources. Armed men were accompanied by Mr. Sajjad Latif Awan, former DG enforcement at PTA and currently on special [...]

Government of Pakistan has published advertisements in various newspapers inviting the applications for filling the positions of Member Technical and Member Finance at Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. It is likely that upcoming Member Technical will become the Chairman of Authority. Advertisements said that applicants should be professional telecommunication engineer and will be responsible for assuming a leadership role relating to regulating the telecommunication systems and provision [...]

Telecom industry is abuzz with the word that deployment of Biometric solution at Customer Service Centers, Franchises and retail outlets for the sale of new SIMs is primarily a move to benefit National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), a government entity. They say that the whole episode of banning sale of new SIMs, MNP ban and other similar moves by government were the efforts to [...]

Mobile phone companies have started selling new SIMs at retail outlets, contrary to what PTA had earlier directed, we have confirmed with official and unofficial sources in the market. The decision has been taken unanimously, by all cellular companies, to sell SIMs at retail outlets that are directly contracted by cellular operators. These retail outlets include Telenor’s Sahulat Ghar, Ufone’s Ushops, Mobilink’s Model Shops, Zong’s [...]

Muhammad Farooq Awan, the removed Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reportedly filed an intra court appeal (ICA) before Lahore High Court (LHC) against his suspension by a single bench, reported Daily Times. Mr. Awan has plead that he was appointed as chairman of the Authority after the approval by the Prime Minister. In his appeal, Mr. Awan said that there was nothing illegal [...]

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is currently undergoing its worst ever managerial situation of the history. Today, at a time when PTA is carrying its operations without a Chairman,  Mr. Sajjad Latif Awan, Director General (Enforcement) has written a letter to Mr. Nasrul Karim Ghaznavi, member finance, and Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, member Technical, to stay with-in their limits and to not Act to as Chairman of [...]