ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has directed completion of the task of hiring of consultant at the earliest for the sale of available spectrum of next generation mobile services (NGMS).

The adviser on finance was chairing a meeting of the Advisory Committee for the release of unsold NGMS on Thursday, and the meeting was also attended by Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

The committee was briefed by chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and secretary Ministry of Information Technology about the latest developments on the sale of available spectrum of next generation mobile services.

The members of Frequency Allocation Board also shared their input on the subject.

The committee was briefed that the process for hiring of the consultant for the sale of available spectrum would be completed within 60 days, and a report will be prepared and submitted before the committee accordingly.

The committee was informed that it is expected that the initial report will be ready by December 2020.

The process for the sale of spectrum will follow after the hiring of the consultant and tentatively would be completed within the current financial year. Adviser Finance, as Chairman of the Committee, directed to complete the task of the hiring of the consultant at the earliest.

He also stated that the whole process of auction must be transparent and an officer may be designated to apprise the public about the progress regarding sale of spectrum on a regular basis.

The process would contribute towards strengthening and expanding communications/IT Services across the country, would create more job opportunities, and improve the ease of doing business.

The next meeting of the Advisory Committee is expected to take place in December 2020.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020