Pakistan telecom competition rules stalled by regulatory dispute

Pakistan’s telecommunications sector faces regulatory uncertainty due to a decade-long dispute between the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). The two bodies disagree over which institution holds the legal authority to frame competition rules for the market. While the MoITT claims mandate under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, the CCP maintains that competition regulation falls under its own jurisdiction.

In the midst of this dispute, the government has prepared a draft of the Telecommunication Competition Rules 2026. Under this proposed framework, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) could receive expanded powers to monitor competition, redefine telecom markets, and assess pricing trends.

Recent reviews of major subscriber packages from providers including Jazz, Telenor, Zong, and Ufone showed price increases of approximately 12% to 22% between June 2025 and June 2026. While the PTA clarified that these do not represent monthly hikes of 10% to 20%, the new regulatory framework could allow for periodic reviews of service costs based on market conditions and technological developments.