PTA has issued a final one-month deadline to Trax Logistics Trackers Private Limited to obtain a mandatory commencement certificate for its Vehicle Tracking Services license, warning that the license will stand automatically terminated if the company fails to meet the requirement within the stipulated period.
The enforcement order, issued under Section 23 of the Pakistan Telecommunication Re-organization Act, 1996, directed the company to complete all formalities for the commencement certificate using local subscriber identity module cards from PTA-licensed cellular mobile operators. The Vehicle Tracking Services licence in question was originally granted to Trax Logistics on January 7, 2016, giving the company authorisation to provide vehicle tracking services across Pakistan. Under PTA’s Class Licensing and Registration Regulations, licensees are required to begin services within one year of receiving a licence and must obtain a commencement certificate from the regulator before launching commercial operations. PTA first contacted the company regarding this requirement in October 2023, but the company did not fulfil it, leading to the issuance of a show-cause notice in December 2024.
In its response, Trax Logistics informed PTA that it had completed most requirements but had been unable to finalise documentation relating to the presence of a cloud server within Pakistan. The company later claimed the issue had been resolved and requested the regulator to proceed with commencement clearance. Following this, PTA conducted a physical inspection on May 15, 2025, which uncovered multiple shortcomings. The company failed to demonstrate the functionality and performance of its tracking devices, did not provide any agreement with a local cellular mobile operator, lacked an established complaint management system, refused to allow inspectors to verify device International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers and associated operators, and had not obtained approval for its code of commercial practice and standard service contract. During a subsequent hearing on July 23, 2025, company Chief Executive Officer Aziz Ur Rehman argued that the tracking devices were designed primarily for cross-border cargo movement and relied on international roaming subscriber identity module cards supplied through a global partner, making local operator agreements unnecessary.
PTA rejected the argument outright, ruling that because the licence authorises services within Pakistan, it falls under domestic regulatory jurisdiction and must comply with local telecom requirements regardless of the end use of the tracking devices. The authority concluded that the company had violated its licence conditions and issued the final one-month compliance deadline, making clear that no further notice will be issued and that the licence termination will be automatic if the deadline is not met.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
