The interim government has introduced the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal to swiftly address legal concerns in Pakistan’s telecom sector.
Caretaker IT Minister Dr Umar Saif announced this initiative, addressing the long-standing demand for expedited resolution of court cases and disputes in the industry.
The specialized tribunal aims to facilitate faster decision-making for telecom companies, enabling them to make crucial choices such as investments and expansion more efficiently.
The government has established a tribunal to alleviate the burden on high courts in handling technical matters related to the telecom sector.
The caretaker minister, Dr Umar Saif, confirmed the issuance of a notification and highlighted approved amendments in the Telecom Act by the President. In the absence of parliament, the tribunal will function under a Presidential Ordinance.
The Ministry of Law will nominate the tribunal’s chairperson and members, with the chairperson being a High Court judge or a lawyer with 15 years of experience. The tribunal, mandated to decide within 90 days on appeals against the decisions of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), will have two technocrats as members, with flexibility to adjust the number based on requirements.
Additionally, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has formed a single portal committee to facilitate the streamlined filing of sales tax returns for the telecom sector across all tax jurisdictions.
