ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecom­munication Authority (PTA) has amended provisions of Telecommunication Cons­umer Protection Regulations 2009 (TCPR) to protect consumer interests as mandated under the Pakistan Telecommunication Re-organisation Act 1996.

The regulations now provide a mechanism with regards to launch of commercial practices and telecommunication promotional schemes by operators.

According to the amended TCPR regulations, prior information is required to be given to PTA for the launch of commercial practices including any telecom service promotional schemes and is required to be devised in the manner prescribed by PTA from time to time. All commercial activities contrary to law cannot be launched by operators.

An operator is required to give at least ten working days prior notice to PTA before the launch of any promotional scheme.

As per amendments in regulations, operators can offer permissible incentives while undertaking any commercial practices.

The permissible incentives shall comprise of telecom service related benefit, including free or additional telecom services, its features, and/or services offered on concessional rates excluding lottery.

PTA may alter, restrict, suspend or impose of any commercial activity or telecommunication service promotional schemes if deemed necessary and operator will be responsible to provide title and key features of such activities to PTA.

The operator will be responsible to provide an undertaking that commercial practice and telecom promotional schemes are in compliance with the act, rules, regulations and all other laws of Pakistan.

Furthermore, under the new regulation, an undertaking regarding inclusion of key features of the offered telecom promotional schemes shall be published in print media – at least one national and local-language newspaper – as well as on the licensee’s website in a clear, transparent and nondiscriminatory manner.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2016