Deregulation Policy 2003:

Section 8 of the Act of 1996 empowers the federal government to issue policy directives and PTA is under obligation to adhere and comply with the directives. Deregulation implies the removal of control of the government. It also implies the liberalization of the telecom market.
The exclusivity of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) to provide basic telephone services under the Act of 1996 expired on 31st December 2002. In July 2003 the Government of Pakistan (GoP) announced “Deregulation Policy for the Telecommunication Sector”. The Policy sets out the following objectives :
• To increase service choice for customers of telecommunication services at competitive and affordable rates;• To promote infrastructure development, especially infrastructure that will increase teledensity and the spread of telecommunication services in all market segments.• To increase private investment in private sector.• To encourage local telecom manufacturing/service industry.• Recognizing the challenge to incumbent, PTCL.• Accelerate expansion of telecom infrastructure to extend services to un-served and under-served areas.• Liberalize the telecommunication sector by encouraging fair competition amongst service provider.• Maintain and effective well defined regulatory regime that is consistent with best international practice.• Maintain consistency with Pakistan’s IT and Interconnect promotion policy of low prices for bandwidth to make internet access affordable.• Safeguard Pakistan’s national and security interest.
Mobile Cellular Policy 2004:
GoP has announced it Cellular Policy. The policy objectives are:
• Promotion of efficient use of radio spectrum;• Increased choice for customers of cellular mobile services at competitive and affordable price;• Private investment in the cellular mobile sector;• Recognition of the rights and obligations of mobile cellular operators;• Fair competition amongst mobile and fixed line operators;• An effective and well defined regulatory regime that is consistent with international best practices;
In pursuance and compliance of the Cellular Policy, the Regulator has issued licenses to the foreign companies.
Subordinate Legislations:
The Act of 1996 sets and provides the broad framework, principles, authority and functions of the Regulator etc. The Act is silent about how the various telecom services, tariffs, interconnection guidelines and disputes arising therefrom, role and responsibilities of incumbent, accounting standards, reporting and problems faced by the companies inter are to be regulated and controlled? To meet the various situations, to control and regulate the services offered by the telecom companies and to create the fair competition environment, the rules and regulations have been framed by the Government and the Regulator. The various Rules, Regulations and Guidelines are:
i. Telecommunication Rules 2000
The Rules have been framed under Section 57 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act, 1996. The Rules provides for the procedure of licencing procedure, its duration, renewal, modification, transfer, assignment or transfer and termination. The Rules further provide the Interconnection procedure, basis terms and conditions of Interconnection Agreement, Procedure in case of failure to agree and arrive at Interconnection Agreement, Interconnection Charges, and dispute resolution mechanism. The Rules also narrates the quality of services, exchange of information between the two operators, Tariff etc.
ii. Access Promotion Contribution Rules 2004:
Means the contribution made by Long Distance International (LDI) operator/licencee to Local Loop (LL) operator/licencee or Universal Service Fund (USF) created and maintained by Federal Government. USF has been established for providing access to telecom services to people living in un-served, underserved, rural and remote areas etc.
iii. Card Payphone Service Regulations 2004:
These have been issued by PTA under Section 5 (2) (O) of the Act of 1996. The Regulations deal with terms and condition of the licence, its modification, renewal and termination, monitoring procedure, accounting & auditing, Inspection by PTA, responsibilities, assignment, complaint systems, code of commercial practices, relationship with customers by the payphone operators and with other operators etc.
iv. Interconnection Dispute Resolution Regulations 2004:
The Regulations provide the comprehensive procedure of dispute resolutions between the operators .
v. Other Regulations and Guidelines:
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has framed and issued certain other regulations and guidelines. These are:
• Fixed Line Tariff Regulations 2004• Vehicles Tracking Services Regulation 2004• Burglar Alarm Services Regulations 2004• Amateur Radio Services Regulations 2004• Audio-tex Service Regulations 2004• Non-voice Communication Network Service Regulations 2004• Registration of Satellite Service Provider Regulations 2004• Trunk Radio Services Regulations 2004• Interconnection Guidelines 2004• Access Promotion Regulation 2005• Number Allocation and Administration Regulation 2005• Mobile Number Portability Regulations 2005