The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, along with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), faced harsh criticism during a recent Senate Standing Committee meeting.
The session, held on Thursday, was chaired by Senator Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan and focused on the recent internet disruptions that have sparked widespread concern across Pakistan. These disruptions have not only caused inconvenience for the general public but have also had a significant impact on e-commerce businesses, raising fears of potentially billions of rupees in losses.
The issue of internet slowdown was a key point of contention during the meeting, with several senators expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of clear explanations from the IT Ministry and the PTA. Senator Afnanullah was particularly vocal, highlighting the ongoing economic crisis in the country. He warned that if the internet issues are not resolved promptly, Pakistan could face the loss of $3 billion in IT sector exports. The concern was echoed by other committee members, including Senator Humayun, who pointed out that several e-commerce platforms have already exited Pakistan due to persistent low internet speeds.
One of the major complaints raised during the meeting was the inability of users to upload or download media files on WhatsApp, a popular communication platform. Senator Afnanullah Khan voiced his frustration, stating that the continued disruptions have severely hampered business activities in the country. Senator Humayun added to the criticism, accusing the PTA and the IT Ministry of ruining business opportunities by failing to maintain adequate internet services.
In response to these complaints, Aisha Humera, the Additional Secretary for IT, attempted to clarify the situation. She explained that the issue was primarily related to cellular networks and not WiFi services. However, her explanation did little to appease the committee members. A representative from the PTA added that no formal complaints had been received regarding slow internet speeds, further frustrating the committee members. The PTA official did acknowledge that disruptions were affecting mobile data services but assured that the PTA was actively assessing the situation. A more comprehensive overview would be available once the assessment is completed in two weeks, the official promised.
The committee also addressed specific complaints, including one from MNA Ali Jaan Mazari, who highlighted the poor internet service in the Kashmore region. Mazari stated that for the past four months, internet services in Kashmore have been crawling, and despite repeated requests, no action has been taken. The PTA officials responded by noting that there are approximately 156 sites of three major service providers in the area. They attributed the slow internet speeds to unannounced load shedding, which has caused significant disruptions. The PTA committed to assessing the issue further and promised to submit a detailed report within the next 15 days. Additionally, the committee directed the PTA to present its quarterly survey report at the next meeting to ensure continued oversight.
Another issue raised during the meeting was the rumored appointment of a Secretary for IT from the private sector. Senator Afnanullah brought up concerns that the new Secretary IT might be appointed for a two-year term with a salary of around Rs 2 million. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the State Minister for IT, responded by stating that the proposal was put forward by the Establishment Division. She assured the committee that the ministry would provide a detailed briefing on the matter in the upcoming week.
The Senate committee also deliberated on “The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023,” which was moved by Senator Afnanullah. The bill aims to protect citizens’ data, a critical issue given the increasing reliance on digital services. Senator Afnanullah emphasized the importance of this legislation, noting that Pakistan currently lacks a legal framework for data protection. Officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications informed the committee that they had consulted with over 100 local and international stakeholders while drafting the bill. The final draft is expected to be completed within the next 15 days. Recognizing the bill’s significance, the committee urged the ministry to expedite the drafting process.
The Virtual University was also given the opportunity to brief the committee on its operations. Rector Arshad Saleem Bhatti shared that the Virtual University was the first in Pakistan to adopt the flipped classroom model, an innovative approach that benefits working students. He emphasized that the university provides quality education at an affordable fee, charging only Rs 150,000 for an entire BS program. Additionally, the university offers 400 courses for free and generates a revenue of Rs 7.25 billion from fees and services, making it self-sustaining without any burden on the exchequer.
The committee’s discussion also touched on the ongoing dispute over Long Distance and International (LDI) and Fixed Line Local (FLL) licenses. The State Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, explained that there has been a prolonged disagreement between the PTA and LDI license holders regarding the determination of Access Promotion Contribution for the Universal Service Fund. Thirty months before the expiry of their licenses in 2024, the PTA issued notices to LDI license holders stating that their licenses would not be renewed due to non-payment of arrears. In response, the LDI license holders obtained a stay order from the Sindh High Court, arguing that the PTA could not condition the renewal of licenses on the payment of dues. The PTA has since engaged the Attorney General of Pakistan to seek a resolution to this dispute.
In a separate but related development, sources within the telecom sector revealed that the second trial of a new national security firewall has been successfully completed. This firewall is intended to address national security concerns by blocking controversial content and curbing propaganda on social media platforms. However, the installation of this firewall has reportedly led to difficulties for users trying to access platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, with mobile data services also experiencing slowdowns. Responding to media queries, State Minister Khawaja noted that countries often take such measures to ensure cybersecurity. She acknowledged the complaints about internet slowdowns but stressed that ideally, internet speed should not be compromised.
As the committee continues to probe into these issues, the pressure is mounting on the IT Ministry and the PTA to address the widespread concerns about internet services in Pakistan. With the potential for significant economic losses looming, the resolution of these issues has become more critical than ever.
