Govt Starts Looking for a New PTA Chairman and Member (Compliance)

The government has initiated the process to appoint a new Chairman and member (compliance & enforcement) for Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which remained vacant for about one year, affecting the performance of the Authority.

The previous government had advertised the position twice but shelved the process after failing to get suitable candidates.

Cabinet Division has asked for fresh applications from suitable Pakistanis on open merit for the post of Member (Technical) in PTA, after which the Member would assume the charge of the chairmanship. The Division has also asked for applications for the post of Member Compliance & Enforcement.

The tenure of former Chairman PTA Ismail Shah was completed on November 13, 2017 while Abdul Samad, former Member Compliance & Enforcement PTA completed his four years term in June 2018.

Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abassi had denied extension for second tenure to former chairman PTA, while saying that the purpose of contract appointments was to ensure that the government retains the option to seek more qualified and better human resources from the market on the completion of the tenure, particularly in a fast developing sector like the telecom sector in Pakistan.

There is no mention or requirement of registration with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for degree. According to the fresh criteria, the person appointed as members shall be paid the salary and be entitled to the privileges of an officer in MP-II scale (Rs.181500-27, 225-290,400). Cabinet Division has invited applications from suitable citizens of Pakistan having following qualifications and experience for appointment (on open merit basis) for the posts of member (Technical) and member (Compliance & Enforcement) in PTA.

For member (Compliance & Enforcement), the applicant should have Ph.D / professional charter in Business/Finance/ Regulatory Economics / Administration/ Corporate management / Telecommunication / Computer Sciences /Information Technology from Foreign/local Institutions with 15 years experience including at least five years at the top management level or Master Degree in above disciplines or LLM from a foreign or local university with 18 years relevant experience in public / private sector.

For member (Technical), PhD in Telecom, Electronics or Electrical Engineering with major in Telecommunications, with fifteen (15) years relevant experience in a responsible position in public or private sector, or (b) MSc /M.S (Electrical/ Electronics/Telecommunications Engineering with major in Telecommunications or in a related discipline with a minimum of eighteen (18) years experience in a responsible position in public /private sector. (c) The experience of working in the field of Telecommunications/ Regulatory organization will be preferred.

According to the previous advertisement for member (Technical), PhD in Telecom, Electronics or Electrical Engineering with major in Telecommunications, with fifteen (15) years relevant experience at least five years at top management level was required.

The appointment of Member shall be for a term of four years and the incumbent shall be eligible for re-appointment on similar term or terms subject to the condition that a member shall cease to hold office on attaining the age of sixty five (65) years.

The selected candidates will have to resign from their previous jobs and serve all their connections/liens with their parent job/organization before joining under this new contract in MP scale.

The selected candidates shall not have any direct or indirect financial interest in, or have business connection with any person, any establishment or firm which renders telecommunication services in Pakistan or abroad, and supplies telecommunication equipment to any telecommunication sector in Pakistan or abroad.