Telecom sector seeks changes to procurement framework

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Access Providers Association has urged the government to end direct government-to-government contracting under public procurement rules, saying it is discouraging investment and innovation in the IT and telecom sectors. In a letter to senior ministers, the association called for state-owned enterprises to compete with private firms for government-funded projects. It said an amendment introduced in 2021 had enabled direct contracts between state entities, resulting in numerous projects being awarded without competitive bidding.