PTA & GSMA to establish capacity-building center in Islamabad

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and GSM Association (GSMA) have signed an agreement to establish the first-ever international “Capacity Building Centre of Excellence” in Islamabad. Under the agreement, PTA has been declared Centre of Excellence for regional regulatory trainings. The signing event was held at PTA Headquarters, Islamabad.

Through this collaboration, PTA and GSMA will jointly arrange and host international trainings on the emerging topics of telecommunication and ICT development to enhance professional skills and knowledge of both government and regulatory professionals from the South Asian and Central Asian states.

PTA, under this program, will provide local facilities including venue and logistic arrangements, while GSMA will arrange trainers/speakers and cover all the expense of their travel and accommodation. The association will provide free trainings to the participants every quarter for the next two years.

Chairman PTA Maj Gen. (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa during the signing ceremony said, “We hope more professionals from regional countries will participle in the training programs providing a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing. PTA officials will also benefit from this center and will be able to find solutions to regulatory challenges”.

He also appreciated GSMA for declaring PTA as Center of Excellence and hoped that the first ever GSMA global center will provide opportunities for capacity building and trainings on cutting-edge technologies such as 5G networks. He also said that PTA will put in all possible resources to make this program a success.

GSMA’s Senior Director Sarah Gaffney stressed the partnership between PTA and GSMA and said that this collaboration will help to achieve mutually beneficial goals of GSMA training programs.