Sources have revealed that the sophisticated committee on cellular companies’ issues is likely to endorse industry status for telecom sector and discount in taxes to the prime minister. The government has established a 14-member committee to address these issues. The committee had further constituted sub-groups on various issues including spectrum allocation, reduction in taxes, industry status, right of way (RoW), and directed to firm up proposals. In line with directions of the prime minister, the committee on issues of cellular mobile operators was formed to evaluate the issues of cellular mobile operators and formulate recommendations for onward submission to the Prime Minister’s Office. It includes the settlement of license renewal matters with cellular mobile operators that will help the government in valuable income generation in the current crisis situation. Matters related to additional spectrum allocation in Pakistan and AJK and GB, mutually agreed license renewal frameworks, tax rationalization, RoW and reduction of NADRA biometric verification charges. The Ministry of Industries and Production has agreed to the proposal that telecom sector should be given functional industry status. The telecom operators shared serious interest in additional spectrum auction in Pakistan and AJK and GB to facilitate quality mobile broadband services necessary to assist people especially students and professionals to work from home, and comply with COVID-19-related advisory.
