Islamabad, December 23, 2025 – The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved key recommendations for the upcoming spectrum auction, a move described by Finance and Revenue Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb as a significant step toward advancing digital and financial inclusion in Pakistan.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Aurangzeb emphasized that digital transformation is central to Pakistan’s economic growth agenda. “Digital simply means faster, cheaper, and better,” he said, highlighting the critical role of digital and financial inclusion in the country’s development strategy.
The minister noted that spectrum is a vital enabler of digital expansion and warned that unsold spectrum could result in direct economic losses. He added that a special committee, chaired by him and including the IT minister and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman, had spent the past year formulating the auction framework.
The committee engaged international consultants, National Economic Research Associates (NERA), to conduct a comprehensive analysis and stakeholder consultations. NERA’s study included meetings with telecom operators, user focus groups, and PTA officials, while reviewing international and regional benchmarks for spectrum auctions.
Based on this analysis, the committee proposed recommendations covering spectrum pricing, auction design, and payment terms, tailored to Pakistan’s economic and market realities. Aurangzeb said the ECC’s approval of these recommendations marks Pakistan’s first structured approach to spectrum auctions, paving the way for a successful process.
The finance minister expressed confidence that the approved framework would unlock the full potential of the telecom sector, enhance digital connectivity, and contribute to sustainable economic growth across the country.
This step is seen as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital and financial inclusion efforts, signaling a forward-looking approach to technology-driven economic development.