ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The new draft telecom deregulation policy is being finalized by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) in haste and without consulting key stakeholders of the telecom industry.

This was stated by Asif Luqman Qazi, President ISPAK (Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan) in a press statement released here on Sunday.

He criticized MoST for taking a U-turn on the previously finalized policy draft which was prepared by the international consultants.

The president of ISPAK said the original policy document of MoST aimed at opening up the fixed line telecom sector under WTO (World Trade Organization) regime. The policy, he said, recommended two types of telecom licences.

He said the salient feature of the policy was that it was a customer and investor friendly.

But, in the last cabinet meeting, the policy had been twisted completely and it was anticipated that an influential lobby having vested interests was trying to get the policy amended in its favour.

Asif Luqman Qazi said the new policy directions given to MoST by the finance ministry were to limit the LDI licences on competitive bidding. This has been termed as a controlled deregulation and further protection of Pak Telecom’s monopoly.