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The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a National Emergency Telecommunication Coordination Centre (NETCC) to maintain uninterrupted telecom services during ongoing and future flood emergencies across Pakistan.
The PTA advisory directs all telecom operators, including those in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to implement contingency plans ensuring seamless voice and data connectivity in flood-affected areas.
The move comes amid rising public dependence on communication networks during natural disasters.
Telecom companies have been instructed to secure infrastructure, ensure availability of fuel, spare parts, and protect systems in line with CTDISR standards, especially in vulnerable zones.
The safety of field teams and continuous network monitoring is essential, with mandatory reporting to NETCC and PTA zonal offices every six hours until services are restored.
The advisory also emphasizes emergency alerts, including flood warnings, evacuation notices, and emergency contact broadcasts via mobile networks in both national and regional languages.
Operators must activate Location-Based Services (LBS) for area-specific alerts and deploy temporary solutions like Cells on Wheels (COWs) or VSATs where infrastructure is damaged.
Restoring central hub sites remains a top priority to stabilize core nationwide connectivity.
PTA also stressed the importance of access to SIMs, mobile top-ups, and scratch cards in disaster-hit regions, requiring franchise operations to coordinate with local authorities.
Consumer support teams must be disaster-trained and mobile to handle complaints quickly and effectively.
A copy of this advisory has been forwarded to all telecom licensees, disaster management bodies, provincial authorities, armed forces, and relevant ministries.
