Approval from Two More Ministries on Awaiting for Smartphone Installment Policy

Published by

Staff Reporter

2 years ago

As it approaches the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Finance for approval, the Ministry of IT and Telecom is prepared to advance its mobile phone installment strategy.

After lengthy deliberations with interested parties in a working group meeting on mobile financing, the ministry is getting ready to present the policy to the federal government for additional review and approval. The Ministry of IT and Telecom intends to release a directive, signifying the start of a cell phone financing scheme, pending gaining approval from the federal government.

The Ministry of IT and Telecom presented the Mobile Phones Financing Policy to the Federal Government in December of last year, thus this proposal builds on their earlier efforts. But in January, the government of Law returned the policy to the government for further examination.

By providing interest-free installment plans, the proposed mobile phones on installment program seeks to democratize access to technology, especially for those with little financial resources. The regulation also tackles worries about defaulters by laying out procedures for blocking the phones of those who don’t pay their installments on time.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will have a major role in implementing this regulation, which is a change from the traditional practice of relying only on mobile firms for enforcement. The blocking procedure will be carried out in large part by the PTA’s Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS).

Staff Reporter