Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has requested the convening of the Auction Advisory Committee meeting to advance the 5G spectrum auction process. The committee has reportedly asked Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to chair the session, following the completion of the budget process. Minister Shaza Fatima expressed hope that the meeting will be held soon.
Regarding the potential merger of two telecom companies, Shaza Fatima clarified that the matter lies within the authority of the Competition Commission of Pakistan, an independent regulatory body. Any merger will require formal approval from the Commission, after which the Auction Advisory Committee will review and provide its opinion.
She also confirmed that an international consultant has finalized a report on the 5G spectrum in line with global standards. The committee will carefully evaluate this report before making final decisions on the auction.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing the telecommunications sector and achieving USD 25 billion in IT exports over the next three years. He expressed optimism that Pakistan will soon launch 5G internet services as part of these efforts.
