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By Tanveer Ahmed :
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has proposed a major project worth Rs1.888 billion to overhaul the country’s telecom billing infrastructure, as part of efforts to modernise the sector and improve service delivery.
The initiative, which is expected to be included in the upcoming federal budget, aims to replace existing fragmented systems with a unified convergent billing platform. According to official documents, the project will run from 2025 to 2028, with an allocation of Rs945 million proposed for the 2026–27 fiscal year.
Despite the scale of the plan, the project remains at an early stage, with no financial or physical progress recorded so far. Key planning documents are still being prepared and must be approved before implementation can begin.
If completed, the new system is expected to support around four million subscribers across a wide range of services, including mobile networks, Wireless Local Loop, long-distance and international connectivity, cloud services and fibre-based internet. By integrating these services into a single platform, authorities aim to simplify billing processes and reduce inefficiencies.
Officials say the move is intended to bring Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure closer to international standards, where convergent billing systems are widely used to manage multiple services through a single interface. The shift is also expected to improve the overall customer experience by reducing billing errors and offering more streamlined account management.
Another key objective is to strengthen revenue management. A centralised system would provide clearer visibility into transactions, helping operators and regulators better monitor financial flows and minimise losses.
Industry experts say the proposal reflects the growing pressure on telecom operators to upgrade their systems as demand for digital services expands. However, they caution that delays in approvals and execution could limit its impact, particularly as global telecom technologies continue to evolve rapidly.
For now, the project remains a forward-looking plan, with its success dependent on timely approvals and effective implementation. If realised, it could mark a significant step in improving efficiency and transparency within Pakistan’s telecom sector.
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