The government has begun work on a plan to provide cheaper electricity to Pakistan’s telecom operators by extending industrial power tariffs to the sector. The move follows an earlier decision to grant the telecom industry industrial status and is aimed at developing a framework for implementing the new tariff structure across the country’s mobile network operators.
A joint task force held its first consultative meeting to examine how industrial electricity tariffs could be extended to telecom companies, focusing on developing a mechanism for the tariff shift and preparing a comprehensive implementation framework. According to sources familiar with the matter, the task force was formed under the policy directive tied to the IMT Spectrum Auction and includes representatives from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Power Division, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, telecom operators and electricity distribution companies.
During the meeting, telecom operators argued that commercial electricity tariffs have placed considerable financial pressure on the sector, noting that the industry contributes substantial tax revenue to the national exchequer similar to other industrial sectors. Operators framed telecommunications as an essential public service rather than a discretionary expense, pushing for tariff treatment that reflects this broader economic contribution rather than commercial rate classifications typically applied to non industrial businesses.
The task force also reviewed measures aimed at ensuring uninterrupted telecom services during prolonged power outages, with sources indicating it will prepare recommendations covering industrial electricity tariffs, smart grid solutions, and dedicated power feeders to improve network resilience and service continuity nationwide. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication will prepare the task force’s formal terms of reference, with participants agreeing to reconvene within the next ten days to continue discussions on the proposed tariff framework.
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