IT Ministry to Hire Consultant to Strengthen ICT Regulatory Framework

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) is currently in the process of appointing experts to enhance its operational capacity.

As part of this initiative, the ministry has opened applications for the position of legal consultant. This appointment will initially be on a three-year contract, with the possibility of an extension for an additional two years on a yearly basis, subject to the approval of the Performance Evaluation Committee.

According to MoITT, the ministry is responsible for formulating policies aimed at advancing Pakistan’s National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure and services. The ministry’s objective is to transform Pakistan into a knowledge-based economy by providing reliable and affordable ICT-enabled services. In pursuit of this goal, the ministry seeks to hire a dynamic professional for the role of Legal Consultant under the MP-II Scale.

The Ministry has specified that candidates for the legal consultant position should possess a Ph.D. in Law from an HEC-recognized local or foreign university with at least five years of professional experience in the relevant field.

Alternatively, candidates with an LLM in Law from an HEC-recognized institution and seven years of professional experience will also be considered. The qualifications highlight the Ministry’s emphasis on recruiting highly skilled professionals to navigate the complex legal landscape of the ICT sector.

The legal consultant’s responsibilities will encompass a wide range of duties, including drafting legislation, providing legal expertise to senior officials, and offering legal opinions.

The consultant will also be responsible for evaluating and vetting contracts related to the ICT sector on behalf of the Ministry and the Government of Pakistan. Furthermore, the role involves interacting with stakeholders and the private sector to gather feedback on legal issues in the ICT domain, organizing workshops, and representing the Ministry in legal proceedings across Pakistan.

According to the ministry, candidates must demonstrate experience in legal drafting, particularly in the IT and Telecom sectors, and have a deep understanding of the policy and regulatory framework of Pakistan’s IT and Telecom industry. The candidate should also possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively represent the Ministry at national and international forums. Additionally, the candidate must have been enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court for at least the last five years.

A shortlisting committee will be formed with the approval of the Secretary of IT and Telecom to screen the applications. The selection committee will then recommend the three most suitable candidates, with the final decision resting with the Prime Minister. The appointed legal consultant will be compensated under the MP-II Scale as per the Management Scale Policy.

This recruitment is part of a broader directive from the Prime Minister to appoint experts across ten ministries, including IT and Telecom, to enhance their performance, building on the recent hiring of a telecom consultant for the ministry’s telecom wing.