The deadline set by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for mobile operators to improve network services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi ended on 31 October 2026. The regulator had ordered telecom companies to fix coverage gaps and resolve connectivity problems across the twin cities, and it now plans to hold them to account.
What the PTA Checked
PTA Director General Enforcement, Brigadier (R) Amir Shehzad, carried out mobile network drive tests across several areas to check service quality on the ground. The tests covered Blue Area, Kashmir Highway, Margalla Road, Iran Avenue, Peshawar Road, 26 Number Chungi, Tarnol and Islamabad International Airport. The PTA team also assessed network performance along the Express Highway and at T-Chowk Rawat.
During the tests, the DG Enforcement contacted mobile operators’ officials by phone to discuss service quality directly. The exercise was designed to find weak coverage, dropped calls, slow internet speeds and other service problems, and to make sure Jazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone fix the issues found.
What Happens Next
Following the end of the deadline, the PTA Chairman will personally inspect telecom services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The authority will also seek explanations from operators over poor network performance. Operators will receive network coverage gap reports from the PTA, and they will then be required to address the identified service issues immediately.
The DG Enforcement stressed that providing reliable mobile and internet services remains the authority’s top priority, and made it clear that the PTA would not compromise on quality of service.
Why This Matters for Users
For mobile users in the twin cities, this deadline is about everyday problems: calls that drop, signals that vanish indoors, and internet that slows down at busy hours. The PTA’s drive tests give the regulator its own evidence, rather than relying only on complaints or operator reports. If operators fail to close the gaps identified, the regulator’s next step — seeking formal explanations — puts public pressure on them to invest in their networks.
This action also fits a wider pattern of PTA field monitoring. In the week of 22 to 28 October 2026 alone, the authority inspected 184 mobile sites across the country, taking its total past 900 sites. The twin-city deadline shows the same approach applied to one specific urban area, with a fixed date and a named follow-up inspection by the Chairman himself.
FAQs
What was the PTA deadline about?
It was a deadline for mobile operators to improve network coverage and internet services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and to fix service-related issues.
When did the deadline end?
It ended on 31 October 2026.
Which operators were covered?
All four mobile operators providing services in the country: Jazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone.
Which areas did the PTA test?
Blue Area, Kashmir Highway, Margalla Road, Iran Avenue, Peshawar Road, 26 Number Chungi, Tarnol, Islamabad International Airport, the Express Highway and T-Chowk Rawat.
What will the PTA do now?
The PTA Chairman will personally inspect services in the twin cities, operators will get coverage gap reports, and they must fix the identified issues immediately. The authority will also seek explanations for poor performance.
Does this mean fines for operators?
No fine has been announced in connection with this deadline so far. The steps announced are inspection, gap reports and explanations from operators.
Conclusion
The end of the 31 October deadline marks the start of the enforcement phase, not the end of the story. With the PTA Chairman set to inspect services personally and operators facing formal questions about poor performance, users in Islamabad and Rawalpindi should watch for real improvements in coverage and speeds in the coming weeks. If the gaps remain, the regulator will have its own test data to back further action.
