Pakistan's information technology ministry has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to complete the auction of 3G spectrum within the next two to three months, reports the Express Tribune citing officials at the PTA. The IT ministry, headed by prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani himself, issued a notification on 19 December to create a committee to supervise the process. The committee will be chaired by finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and will include privatisation minister Ghous Bux Mahar, water and power minister Naveed Qamar, finance secretary Waqar Masood, IT secretary Saeed Ahmed Khan, the chairman of the PTA, the executive director of the Frequency Allocation Board, and several other officials. PTA spokesperson Muhammad Younas said that the decision would not only generate revenues for the government, but also attract foreign investment in a sector where several global investors have already expressed an interest in Pakistan's market potential. PTA officials said that they have made all preparations for the 3G licence auction and would be inviting bids soon. Pakistan's five mobile service providers have been eagerly waiting for the government's decision to auction more spectrum, though some had baulked at the government's target price. Nevertheless, most have budgeted for the expected expense of a 3G licence for the coming financial year. For now, the government has only said that if a company that does not currently operate services in Pakistan wins a 3G licence, it will not be allowed to start offering services until March 2013.
