ISLAMABAD: The long-awaited 5G spectrum auction in Pakistan continues to face significant delays due to unresolved court cases involving key telecom operators, as revealed during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology on Monday.
PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman told the committee that while 196 MHz of spectrum was allocated for future auction, 146 MHz remains locked in litigation. These ongoing legal disputes, which have been unresolved for years, are preventing any progress on the auction.
The PTA Chairman emphasized that this legal gridlock is causing uncertainty, hindering the auction process, and damaging investor confidence. He pointed out that only 50 MHz of the spectrum is currently available for allocation, while two critical cases continue to block the rest.
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima also weighed in, stating that billions of rupees are tied up in these cases. “We are pushing for an urgent resolution, but the process is being delayed by tactics from certain quarters,” she said.
Committee members stressed the need for auction planning to consider not only revenue generation but also the technical and infrastructural realities involved. Committee Chairman Aminul Haq highlighted the importance of balancing these factors in the auction process.
To address the legal hurdles, the committee formed a special sub-committee tasked with reviewing the issues and coordinating with the judiciary to expedite the resolution of the cases. The committee emphasized the urgency of resolving these matters to avoid further delays in Pakistan’s 5G rollout.