ICT and telecom industry: Draft amendments to R&D Fund Rules 2006 approved

ISLAMABAD: The government has approved draft amendments to the Research and Development (R&D) Fund Rules, 2006, meant to promote the development of a knowledge-based Information and Communication Techno-logy (ICT) and telecom industry, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication informed the Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) that the Research and Development (R&D) Fund has been established under Section 33C of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act, 1996, to promote the development of a knowledge-based Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and telecom industry.

For administering the Fund, the Federal Government had framed the R&D Fund Rules, 2006, under clause (ab) of sub-section (2) of Section 57, read with Section 33D of the Telecom Act. Under Rule 4 of the said Rules, the Ignite National Technology Fund was established and incorporated under Section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017.

The MoIT&T further stated that in pursuance of Rule 16(1)(b) read with other enabling provisions of the Rules of Business, 1973, and on the directions of the Cabinet Division vide letter of Ma7 27, 2024, the draft amendments to the R&D Fund Rules were shared with the Ministry of Finance for obtaining the views/comments of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) vide letter of April 10, 2025.

After incorporating the views/comments of the CGA, the draft Rules were further shared with the Ministry of Finance, which in turn forwarded them to the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) vide letter dated 28th April 2025. The Finance Division had provided the CGA’s views/comments through a letter of May 9, 2025.

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It was further informed that after seeking the inputs from the above stakeholders, the MoIT&T had incorporated the views/comments of the said stakeholders in the draft of the R&D Fund Rules. As per Rule 12 of the Rules of Business, 1973, the draft amendments were also shared with the Establishment Division on May23, 2025. However, the Establishment Division, in reply on June 25, 2025, had returned the case stating that the subject matter primarily related to the Finance Division.

The MoIT&T further apprised the forum that the revised draft of R&D Fund Rules, 2006, was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Law and Justice on August 6, 2025, for legal vetting. The final draft R&D Fund Rules, 2006, were amended and vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice on September 12, 2025. The certificate in this regard, signed by the Secretary IT&T, stating that the changes made by the Ministry of Law and Justice and other stakeholders were incorporated in the draft, was also presented.

The final draft Rules were submitted for kind consideration, and approval of the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases under Rule 16(1)(b) read with Rule27(1) of the Rules of Business, 1973, and for recommendation of the same to the Cabinet.

After a detailed discussion, the CCLC approved of Draft Amendments to the Research and Development (R&D) Fund Rules, 2006.

The Federal Cabinet, in its meeting held on January 2, 2026, ratified the decision of CCLC taken on December 30, 2025.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026