5G services auction delayed due to challenges identified by consultant, Senate panel told

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman told the Senate Committee on Cabinet Secretariat that the auction of 5G services was scheduled in April but could not take place because of few challenges identified by consultant and till those challenges were resolved the said auction will not receive good response from the market, hence, there was a delay in the process.

Following a comprehensive discussion, the committee was briefed that one of the primary issues was long standing litigation that was being pending and until the issue was resolved proper auction of 5G cannot take place.

The Senate committee meeting was presided over by its Chairman Senator Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan at the Parliament House, wherein the chairman PTA and his team gave a briefing on the 5G services rollout plan across the country.

The committee was told that an American consultancy firm had been hired in November 20, 2024 to facilitate the 5G services auction process. The committee considered the government Bill titled: “The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2025”, which was introduced by Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Law & Justice, on behalf of the Minister Incharge of Cabinet Secretariat during the Senate sitting held on 24th January, 2025.

Following a comprehensive discussion on the bill, the committee chairman recommended that representatives from the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs be invited in next meeting for further deliberation.

Separately, the deputy administrator of the Abandonment Properties Organization (APO) briefed the committee on the organisational structure and functions of the administrator APO. During the discussion, the committee members inquired about payment previously discussed.

In response, the deputy administrator informed that APO had already deposited an amount of Rs48.232 billion, while the remaining Rs1.186 billion was expected to be deposited in the next fiscal year.

The deputy administrator stated that the APO was an autonomous body which was established on 12th February, 1975 under the Abandoned Properties (Management) Act, 1975 (Act XX of 1975), to mandate and administer the properties (movable and immovable) abandoned by former citizens of Pakistan who migrated to Bangladesh on or after 16th December, 1971.

It functions under the supervision of a nine-member Board of Trustees (BoT) constituted by the federal government from time to time.

The committee chairman sought complete details of the property owned by the APO and auction till date, besides indicating the location of the property that was currently in its possession in the next meeting.

The chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gave a briefing on Pakistan Super League (PSL) performance, and its financial and expansion plans.

The PCB official told the committee that advanced match control systems have been introduced for the first time in PSL, enhancing fairness and speed of decisions, adding this firmly positions PSL as one of the most-watched T20 leagues globally in the digital age.

Early data from PSL live streaming partner reflected unprecedented 1.1 billion + views across live streaming platforms in Pakistan after 11 matches. The committee chairman recommended that opportunities should be identified and created for children, so that they can take part in cricket and this can be carried out by collaboration with the relevant government departments and schools and also utilising public spaces like public parks.

Besides, the committee was informed that the board of the Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) includes representatives from Senate and National Assembly.

The nomination from Senate were received in June and September of senators Hidayatullah Khan and Danesh Kumar, respectively.

However, the nomination from NA were received in April 2025, therefore, there was a delay and once the summary was approved the same will be notified.

The meeting was attended by senators Saleem Mandviwalla, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Saadia Abbasi, Anusha Rahman Ahmed Khan, Atta-Ur-Rehman, Amir Waliuddin Chishti and senior management from the ministry and relevant departments.