Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shiza Khawaja has announced relief for call centers and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, confirming that the sector will remain exempt from newly imposed commercial timing restrictions introduced amid the ongoing energy conservation drive.

The government recently enforced earlier closing hours for commercial centres and markets across the country to manage the energy crisis. However, call centers have been allowed to continue operations without disruption under a special exemption.

District administrations have already communicated the exemption to several businesses, though the minister acknowledged that implementation gaps remain in some areas. She said efforts are underway to ensure the information reaches all stakeholders and is enforced smoothly nationwide.

Separately, local holidays declared in Islamabad and Rawalpindi due to the arrival of foreign delegations will also not apply to call centers operating under the exemption. The move is seen as particularly important for the BPO industry, which plays a significant role in supporting Pakistan’s IT exports and telecom services.

The minister advised companies facing operational difficulties related to timing restrictions or security arrangements, especially in Islamabad, to contact the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) facilitation desk for assistance.

According to officials, the PSEB support desk provides centralized guidance to call centers and BPO firms, resolves queries within 24 hours, and allows businesses to track requests through an online dashboard. Both registered members and non-members can access these services through email, the facilitation portal, or the board’s toll-free helpline.

The exemption is expected to help maintain uninterrupted operations in Pakistan’s growing call center and outsourcing industry during the current energy conservation measures.