PTBP Web Desk
The second consecutive day, government officials faced sharp criticism from parliamentarians during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom. The session, held on Thursday, revolved around the persistent issues of slow internet speeds and frequent outages, sparking heated debates and emotional responses from government representatives.
The Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, defended the government’s stance, asserting that neither the IT industry nor other sectors had reported significant issues due to internet disruptions. She attributed the outages to security measures, stating that internet shutdowns were sometimes “necessary due to terror threats.” However, this explanation failed to satisfy members of the committee, particularly PPP MNA Sharmila Farooqi.
Ms. Farooqi strongly criticized the government’s response, expressing disappointment over its perceived inaction. “Four meetings have been held, yet no solution has been found. Either we are lying, or the government is,” she remarked. She also highlighted the adverse impact of internet issues on businesses, sharing that her husband’s e-commerce company had suffered losses due to repeated slowdowns.
Committee Chairman MNA Syed Aminul Haque voiced concerns over the financial implications of internet disruptions, which he claimed were causing losses amounting to millions of dollars. He referred to earlier assurances from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) about improvements in internet speed by October 2024 but noted that the issues persisted.
PTA Chairman Retired Maj Gen Hafeezur Rehman provided insights into the technical challenges, revealing that three out of seven submarine cables connecting Pakistan had recently been damaged. This, he explained, had led to significant disruptions. Addressing allegations of deliberate throttling, he stated that internet blockages were implemented on directives from the federal government, Ministry of Interior, or courts, and assured the committee there was “no malicious intent” behind these actions.
A day earlier, Mr. Rehman had informed the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom that internet shutdowns were a “legal grey area,” calling for the Ministry of Law and Interior to provide clarity on their legality. Following this, the NA committee decided to summon secretaries from both ministries for a detailed briefing in the next meeting.
The PTA chairman also highlighted technical constraints, stating that the current allocation of 270 MHz spectrum was insufficient for a population of 240 million, leading to network congestion. However, he announced plans for a 5G spectrum auction in April, which he claimed would significantly enhance internet infrastructure and service quality.
Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja informed the committee about ongoing discussions with Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet company. She expressed optimism that Starlink’s entry into Pakistan could provide a viable solution to the country’s internet challenges, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
The committee also addressed the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL)’s failure to provide a comprehensive list of its properties. The committee directed PTCL’s management to furnish the list in the next meeting. Officials clarified that PTCL could not sell any property without prior board approval and that the Privatisation Commission served as the custodian of the sales and purchase agreement with UAE telecom giant Etisalat. The committee requested a detailed review of the agreement’s clauses to resolve ongoing disputes.
In addition to the internet issues, the committee deferred the ‘Digital Nation Pakistan Bill’ until its next meeting. The bill aims to streamline the country’s digital infrastructure and address regulatory gaps, but further discussions were deemed necessary.
