Ministry of State for Information Technology Mrs Anusha Rahman on Tuesday said that endeavours were in place to introduce the draft of telecommunications policy soon with particular focus on promoting latest trends and services.
She said in view of new trends the ministry of IT had proposed spectrum trading, spectrum reforming, over the top (OTT) as well as satellite services in the policy which were not part of the previous telecom policy.
In an exclusive talk with APP at GSMA seminar here, the minister while highlighting benefits of the policy said that it would give them a stage to flourish for next five years.
The seminar – building digital societies: making commerce smarter – was organised in collaboration with mobile phone operators, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
With regard to satellite services, she said Pakistan possessed Paksat-1 which could be utilised to ensure communication services in far-flung areas of the country, but this required regulatory framework which had been proposed in the policy so that these services can be provided under rules.
Anusha Rahman said the policy would also enable and encourage local manufacturing, content and application development and added that the policy would also be aimed at achieving universally available and affordable telecom services to all users to benefit economy and society.
To a query, the minister said that efforts were also underway with different companies to introduce local manufacturing of mobile handsets which would help ensure their affordable prices.
The minister said that she had asked China Mobile to facilitate local manufacturing of handsets in Pakistan by introducing to Chinese vendors the “concessionary tax regime” introduced by government for setting up local manufacturing of mobile handsets.
She said Pakistan had now become a lucrative place for manufacturers owing to various incentives and also low labour rates.
The minister said that Haier Co had already started manufacturing locally by establishing its plant in Pakistan. Thanks to incentives announced by the prime minister, more companies would also be attracted for the purpose, she added.
