The long-awaited spectrum auction, a critical step for advancing Pakistan’s telecom and digital sectors, is set to be completed by December 2025, following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The timeline was shared during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday.
The Auction Supervisory Committee (ASC), led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, is scheduled to convene on Monday to review recommendations from a consultant engaged for the process. The consultant’s report will be presented during the meeting, paving the way for formal approval of the auction. Officials have committed to completing the process before the end of the calendar year.
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, met at the Parliament House to discuss pressing issues in the telecom and digital sectors. The Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) briefed the committee on its preparations for the spectrum auction, highlighting key milestones achieved since 2021.
According to the FAB, essential frequency bands have been aligned with global 5G standards, including the clearance of 30 MHz and the identification of additional millimeter-wave bands in the 3 GHz and 24 GHz ranges. These steps are crucial for enabling next-generation connectivity in Pakistan.
Despite progress, committee members raised concerns over delays caused by litigation and stay orders on certain frequency bands. These legal hurdles, they noted, are resulting in significant economic losses and hindering the growth of Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.
The Special Secretary of the Ministry of IT assured the committee that the auction would proceed as planned, with all necessary measures being taken to meet the revised December 2025 deadline. The official emphasized that the process is being carried out in line with the Prime Minister’s directives to ensure transparency and efficiency.