During a recent NA committee meeting, IT minister Shaza Fatima revealed that a five-year telecom plan has been prepared on the prime minister’s instructions, along with a connectivity plan extending to 2030.

She said the prime minister will launch the connectivity plan in the coming weeks.

She also stated that preparations are underway before the launch of 5G and confirmed that two major telecom companies have merged.

Rs. 13 Billion USF Projects Approved

The minister further informed the committee that USF approved projects worth Rs. 13 billion during the current year. The standing committee sought a detailed briefing on these projects.

The committee chairman said members are not satisfied with the PTA’s performance, adding that what is shown on paper does not match ground realities.

The committee chairman stressed that the 5G auction should be conducted as soon as possible and said the focus should be on service quality rather than fees in dollars.

Committee members also highlighted ongoing power supply issues at telecom towers. Shaza Fatima said that globally, telecom towers are being outsourced and that outsourcing is the only viable solution to resolve these issues.

The committee summoned tower companies and USF officials to the next meeting.

Islamabad and Karachi IT Park Update

The committee was also briefed on IT park projects. The project director said the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Karachi IT Park is at the final stage, and the tender will be floated by the end of this month.

He said the tender for contractor selection will be issued, discussions with the EXIM Bank are ongoing, and the contract will be finalized within three months.

The project director said work on the Islamabad IT Park is progressing rapidly, the contractor has increased labor strength, and 98% of the structure has been completed. Shaza Fatima said 80% of work at the Islamabad IT Park has been completed, with 60% completed in just one year. The project director said efforts are underway to complete the project by January 2026.

The committee chairman directed that the Islamabad IT Park must be completed by February 28 at all costs. Shaza Fatima said the prime minister frequently seeks updates on the project.

A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom was held to discuss the Digital Media Bill 2025, aimed at preventing obscenity and indecent content on digital platforms.

The bill was presented by Member of the National Assembly Shahida Rehmani.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima briefed the committee and said that children today receive information through social media and are exposed to all kinds of content. She stated that this issue is not limited to Pakistan but exists globally.

She said the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is a newly established institution and currently faces some challenges. She added that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) remains in contact with social media companies to address these issues.

Shaza Fatima informed the committee that Google has started manufacturing Chromebooks in Pakistan and is also opening an office in the country. She said the need for business offices of large companies in different countries is decreasing.

Referring to the ban on X, the minister said allegations were made that it restricted freedom of expression, adding that even today, less than two percent of Pakistani users are on X. She said Meta and other companies visit Pakistan twice every year and that Meta, in collaboration with Pakistan, has established the country’s first complaint portal.

She emphasized that the absence of company offices does not mean global companies are not complying with local laws. She said part of the objective of Shahida Rehmani’s bill would be achieved through the Data Protection Bill, while some amendments would be included in the NCCIA framework. She added that it is also better for international companies to have a single platform for compliance.

Following the federal minister’s assurance, Shahida Rehmani withdrew the bill.

The committee chairman said the performance of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency remains questionable.

A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom was held under the chairmanship of Syed Aminul Haque, where members raised serious concerns over weak mobile signals and slow internet services across the country.

Committee member Sadiq Ali Memon expressed reservations over a report submitted by PTA regarding mobile signals and termed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) Quality of Service (QoS) survey report as “ridiculous.”

He said that whenever mobile signal issues are discussed in the committee, the federal minister becomes upset. He added that service problems exist on the ground, but reports presented claim everything is satisfactory. “When you are not ready to accept the problem, then everything becomes useless,” he remarked.

PTA’s QoS Survey Under Fire

Committee member Sharmila Farooqi questioned where and how PTA conducts its Quality of Service surveys. She demanded that these surveys be conducted through a third party and said it was difficult to understand how PTAs’ report shows 99% satisfaction.

Committee member Pauline questioned where the public should go if the PTA cannot ensure the provision of mobile signals.

PTA Defends Performance, Admits Mistakes

During the meeting, the PTA chairman stated that over the past year, the PTA ranked number one among government departments in complaint resolution. He said PTA has 12 zonal offices across the country and admitted that some mistakes have occurred.

He added that the Universal Service Fund (USF) works to improve network coverage in underdeveloped areas. The PTA chairman revealed that at one point, USF had funds amounting to Rs. 50 billion, which were later taken back by the government due to non-utilization.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima said these funds were taken from USF in 2013 and started returning in 2022 under decisions made by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). She added that all funds taken from USF would be returned by 2026.