National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday recommended giving rights to Special Communication Organization (SCO), for launching 3G/4G services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
“SCO has updated the system by installing all the required equipments and provided free of cost services in AJ&K and GB for one month”, said SCO representatives while briefing the Committee which met with acting chairman Syed Ali Raza Abidi.
The representative from SCO briefed the Committee about the establishment, functioning, achievements and future plans of the organization. They also shared their grievances with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.
SCO officials told the committee that now Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been appointed as the agent in the area for holding a spectrum auction. SCO may be given rights as per the law, said the official adding that without amendments in the law, contracts could not be given.
PTA isn’t allowed to hold the auction according to the law. Chairman PTA Ismail Shah said that if there were objections, the matter could be taken up with the federal government.
Secretary IT said that the ministry and the Prime Minister are aware of this matter and a meeting was scheduled in this regard on Tuesday. SCO maintained that it has exclusive rights to operate in AJ&K and GB. The committee recommended that SCO may be given rights as per the constitution.
The Committee appreciated the performance of SCO and directed the Ministry that SCO may be treated equally as per other private national or international organizations. Further, the Committee directed that in the next meeting of the Committee, SCO may be taken on agenda.
