Key Takeaways
- A jurisdictional dispute between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has delayed the finalization of Telecommunication Competition Rules, 2026.
- The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has shared draft rules with PTA, but the matter remains pending with the ministry.
- The Islamabad High Court has ruled that the CCP has exclusive authority over competition-related matters, a decision PTA is challenging in the Supreme Court.
A jurisdictional dispute between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has delayed the finalization of the Telecommunication Competition Rules, 2026, according to documents presented during a Senate question.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication shared a draft of the rules with the PTA on January 21, 2026, and an amended draft was sent on July 7. The PTA submitted its comments on July 27, but the matter remains unresolved.
The central issue concerns which institution has legal authority to regulate competition in the telecom sector. The Ministry of IT maintains that PTA does not have jurisdiction over telecom competition matters, while PTA refers to its mandate and scope under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996.
The Islamabad High Court recently ruled that the CCP has exclusive authority over competition-related matters. PTA has challenged this ruling before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, arguing that the authority has a competition-related mandate under the telecom law. The case remains pending before the apex court.
The federal government is responsible for framing the rules under Section 57 of the telecom law, while Clause 5.1.2 of the Telecommunication Policy assigns their development to the Ministry of IT. Work on the rules dates back to amendments made in 2006, with an earlier draft titled the Pakistan Telecommunication Fair Competition Rules circulated in 2009.
Despite these efforts, a final framework has yet to be notified, leading to delays in the implementation of competition rules in the telecom sector. The ongoing dispute is expected to impact the regulatory environment and the functioning of the telecom industry in Pakistan.
The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication has emphasized the importance of these rules for ensuring fair competition and protecting consumer interests. However, the delay has raised concerns among stakeholders about the timely implementation of regulatory measures.
The PTA and the CCP continue to engage in discussions to resolve the jurisdictional dispute, but the matter remains unresolved. The Supreme Court's decision is expected to provide clarity on the issue and pave the way for the finalization of the rules.
