Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has moved to reassure Pakistan’s business process outsourcing and call centre industry that the timing restrictions currently in force across parts of the country do not apply to their operations. In a post shared on LinkedIn, the Minister confirmed that district administrations have been informed of this exemption, while acknowledging that the flow of this information to ground level has been slow and that businesses are experiencing teething challenges as a result of the communication gap between policy and implementation.
The clarification comes at a sensitive time, with security related restrictions also in effect in Islamabad over the coming days, adding a further layer of operational concern for technology firms and outsourcing companies operating in the capital. Recognising that companies affected by either set of restrictions may require direct intervention to resolve issues on the ground, the Minister has opened a dedicated support channel through PSEB and the Tech Destination Pakistan facilitation desk. Businesses facing difficulties can reach out through a contact form at https://lnkd.in/dBKQeBVc, by emailing support@pseb.org.pk, or by calling the toll free helpline at 080001010.
The move reflects an understanding within the Ministry that Pakistan’s business process outsourcing and call centre sector, which operates around the clock to serve international clients across different time zones, cannot afford interruptions to its working hours without significant commercial and reputational consequences. By proactively clarifying the exemption and offering a structured support mechanism, the Ministry is signalling its intent to shield one of Pakistan’s most active technology export segments from the disruption that blanket administrative restrictions can cause when not communicated with sufficient clarity to the operators responsible for enforcing them at a local level.
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