ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rahman on Tuesday said that the government will soon introduce new telecommunications policy with particular focus on promoting latest trends and services.

The minister claimed that keeping in view new trends in information technology, IT Ministry has proposed Spectrum Trading, Spectrum Reforming, Over The Top (OTT) as well as Satellite services to be introduced in the policy which were not part of the previous telecom policy.

In an exclusive talk with APP after addressing a seminar, the minister while highlighting benefits of the policy said, "it would give us a stage to flourish for next five years".

The IT minister said that Haier Co. has already started manufacturing locally by establishing its plant in Pakistan.

"Thanks to incentives announced by the prime minister, more companies will be attracted towards establishing their production units in Pakistan," Anusha added.

Earlier, the federal minister addressed the seminar — Building Digital Societies : Making Commerce Smarter — organised in collaboration with mobile phone operators and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

During her address, Anusha listed measures adopted by government to promote Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the country.

She claimed that her ministry is developing and putting in place numerous packages and schemes to uplift skills and knowledge of Pakistani women in ICT to increase their employability.

Anusha Rahman also announced that an ICTs for girls programme will be launched soon in collaboration with Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM). The programme is aimed at training thousands of girls from marginalised section of society, so that they can land suitable jobs.

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In his presentation, Chairman PTA, Dr. Syed Ismail Shah said Pakistan has emerged as one of the leading markets in telecommunications.

In broadband sector Pakistan had around 250,000 broadband subscribers few years ago which has now reached overall 24 million broadband users including mobile broadband in the country, showing a massive growth rate.

"The mobile broadband area (3G, 4G) was also showing a reasonable growth with around 20.6 million users since its launch 15 months ago," said Shah.

The seminar was attended by representatives GSMA, mobile phone operators, telecom companies, MoIT and PTA.