The coalition government has tabled the budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 in the national assembly. According to Table-5 of the financial bill 2022-23, the incumbent government has proposed to collect 50 billion in non-tax revenue on the 3G/4G license renewal.
Government proposes non-tax revenue on 3G/4G license renewal
According to Table-19, Sec(B) of the budget document under the head of income from property and enterprise, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (Surplus), the government has projected to generate Rs. 9 billion in the upcoming fiscal year against the budgeted Rs. 4 billion for the outgoing fiscal year which was later revised to Rs. 3 billion for the fiscal year 2021-22.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is mandated to regulate the establishment, operation, and maintenance of telecommunication systems and provision of telecommunication services in Pakistan, to dispose of applications for the use of radio-frequency spectrum, to promote and protect the interests of users of telecommunication services in Pakistan, to promote the availability of a wide range of high quality, efficient, cost-effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Pakistan, to promote rapid modernization of telecommunication systems and telecommunication services, to investigate and adjudicate on complaints and other claims made against licensees arising out of alleged contraventions of the provisions of the Act, the rules made and licenses issued there under and take action accordingly, states the document.
The government is planning to launch 5G services
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi apprised the National Assembly that the government was planning to launch a 5G service in the country. He said that 4G services were available in 89% of the country and in the next nine months the whole country would be covered. He further mentioned that the cellular operators were obliged to extend 4G coverage as per license conditions and charge consumers on the basis of data used/consumed by the subscribers irrespective of the technology.
Read more: The Launch of 5G Phone Connectivity Gets Delayed Due to Political Crisis in Pakistan
