Yesterday, the federal government conducted interviews to fill the two vacant posts at Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for member technical and member compliance & enforcement.
It must be mentioned that the upcoming member technical may also be appointed as Chairman of PTA, which is being run on adhoc basis since November 13, 2017.
The federal government had constituted a five-member committee headed by the Minister of State for Communications, Murad Saeed, for the appointment of Member Technical and Member Compliance & Enforcement of the PTA. From the successful candidates, one will be appointed as Chairman PTA.
The committee, which conducted the interviews, comprised of Secretary Information Technology, Additional Secretary Law and Justice, Additional Secretary Establishment Division, and Additional Secretary Cabinet Division while it was chaired by the Minister of State for Communications.
According to the sources, 17 candidates were shortlisted against both vacant positions, including former Major General (Retd) who used to be Director General Special Communications Organization (SCO), former Member Finance PTA, former Chairman PTA, former Member Technical PTA, former Member Enforcement PTA, DG PTA and some others.
Delayed Process of Appointment
Soon after coming into power, the incumbent government had initiated the process to appoint the new chairman and member (compliance & enforcement) of PTA, since the lack of these officials is affecting the performance of the Authority.
The previous government had advertised the position twice but shelved the process after failing to get suitable candidates.
The Cabinet Division had asked for fresh applications from suitable Pakistanis on open merit for the post of Member Technical in PTA. The Division had also asked for applications for the post of Member Compliance & Enforcement.
The tenure of former Chairman PTA Ismail Shah completed on November 13, 2017 while Abdul Samad, former Member Compliance & Enforcement PTA completed his four-year term in June 2018.
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had denied an extension to the former chairman PTA, stating 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.
Requirements for the New Members
There is no mention or requirement of registration with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) for a degree. According to the fresh criteria, the persons 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).
The Cabinet Division had invited applications from suitable citizens of Pakistan having the following qualifications and experience for the appointment (on open merit basis) for the posts of a member (Technical) and member (Compliance & Enforcement) in PTA.
For member (Compliance & Enforcement), the applicant needs a 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.
The appointment of Member will 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 with their parent organization before this new contract in MP scale.
