The federal government has decided to form a joint task force to implement wide-ranging reforms in the telecom sector aimed at supporting next-generation mobile services and strengthening digital infrastructure.
The task force will comprise representatives from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the Ministry of Energy (Power Division), NEPRA, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, telecom operators, and power distribution companies.
According to the policy directive, the task force will examine and implement an industrial power tariff for the telecom sector, introduce smart grid solutions, and develop dedicated power feeders to address prolonged power outages affecting telecom networks.
These measures are intended to improve network reliability, reduce operational costs for operators, and support the large-scale deployment of advanced mobile technologies.
The federal government will also review the 2020 Rolling Spectrum Strategy and consider releasing more than 1,000 MHz of low- and mid-band spectrum well before 2030. Additional reforms include facilitating infrastructure sharing to improve tenancy ratios, leveraging Universal Service Fund–supported infrastructure to expand fiber backhaul, and promoting the efficient use of existing telecom assets.
To accelerate 5G adoption, the government plans to enable smartphone upgrades through tax reductions, promote local manufacturing to improve affordability, and allow the duty-free import of 5G equipment.
The policy directive also calls for a review of the telecom licensing framework to improve ease of doing business, enhance customer experience, and restore the financial health of the telecom sector in order to attract long-term investment in Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.