The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has established a National Emergency Telecommunication Coordination Centre (NETCC) to monitor and coordinate the provision of uninterrupted telecom services in response to ongoing and anticipated flood emergencies across the country.
In its advisory, PTA directed all telecom operators, including those operating in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to activate contingency plans ensuring seamless voice and data services.
With the increase in public reliance on communication networks during disasters, the advisory highlights that operators must remain fully prepared to support relief efforts and maintain service continuity in high-risk and flood-affected areas.
Telecom operators have been instructed to prioritize the safety and security of their physical infrastructure in compliance with CTDISR standards, particularly in vulnerable zones. Adequate resources, including fuel for generators and spare parts, must remain available.
Field teams must be equipped to operate safely, and any major network disruptions are to be reported immediately to NETCC and the relevant PTA zonal office, with updates every six hours until restoration.
The advisory outlines detailed emergency response actions such as broadcasting flood warnings, evacuation instructions, and emergency numbers in national and regional languages through mobile networks. Operators are also expected to enable Location-Based Services (LBS) for targeted alerts and to deploy temporary infrastructure like Cells on Wheels (COWs) or VSATs to restore service in severely damaged areas.
Restoration of central hub sites has been listed as a top priority to stabilize core connectivity nationwide. Further, PTA emphasized the importance of customer accessibility to essential telecom services such as SIMs, mobile top-ups, and scratch cards in disaster-impacted zones.
Coordination with local authorities for the operation of franchises and outlets has been made mandatory. Operators must also ensure that consumer complaints are addressed promptly by mobile and fully equipped support teams trained in disaster response protocols.
A copy of the advisory has been shared with key stakeholders including all telecom licensees, the National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities, the Chief Secretaries of provinces, AJK and GB, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of IT and Telecom, armed forces’ operational directorates, IGs of police across the country, and various senior officials within PTA.
