The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology held a detailed meeting to assess several ongoing matters in the telecom sector, with the Ministry of Law and PTA offering the most significant updates. The committee focused closely on the long-delayed Telecom Tribunal and the outstanding dues owed by Long Distance and International companies. Officials from the Law Ministry confirmed that the summary for appointing the chairman and member of the tribunal has already been forwarded. They stated that both appointments are expected to be completed soon, marking noticeable movement after years of postponement. The committee chairman said he has been waiting for the tribunal’s formation since 2019 and expressed optimism that the process is finally approaching completion.
The committee also reviewed the position of LDI companies regarding their pending payments. PTA officials briefed members on the progress made so far. They explained that one company has fully cleared its dues while another remains in negotiations with PTA to settle its remaining amount. Several other companies have approached the courts, which has paused recovery efforts until legal proceedings conclude. Ministry of IT officials added that establishing the Telecom Tribunal will make future recovery of such dues more manageable as cases will be resolved faster with a dedicated platform in place. They noted that the tribunal will support quicker decisions, minimize prolonged disputes and improve administrative efficiency for the sector.
Committee members acknowledged the subcommittee that handled the LDI matter and commended its effort in clarifying the issues. The chairman remarked that the subcommittee did excellent work in identifying gaps and stressed that no fresh dues should be allowed to accumulate. He urged authorities to strengthen monitoring systems to prevent companies from creating new liabilities. He also stated that once the tribunal becomes operational, it must swiftly take up pending cases to ensure accountability and transparency across the telecom industry. He emphasized the need for timely and effective functioning to prevent future delays.
During discussions, the committee noted that the absence of a dedicated tribunal has caused years of setbacks in reducing disputes and recovering LDI payments. Members pointed out that telecom operators and regulators both require an efficient dispute resolution body, especially considering the sector’s role in Pakistan’s digital progress. They stated that a functional tribunal will help streamline legal processes and support better regulatory management. Officials stressed that with growing dependence on telecom services, strengthening oversight mechanisms is essential for long term sector stability. The committee concluded that forming the Telecom Tribunal must be handled as a priority and urged relevant departments to finalize all requirements without delay.
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