The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, convened at Parliament House, Islamabad, on Monday to discuss critical issues impacting Pakistan’s telecom and digital sectors.
During the briefing, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that Jazz increased its tariffs by 15% on a quarterly basis under Rule 26 of PTA Rules, which allows leading operators to revise rates within a set limit. PTA officials noted that while Jazz and Telenor recorded profits in 2024, both Zong and Ufone suffered losses. The Chairperson raised concerns over the substandard telecom services being provided across the country and emphasized that long-standing hurdles like the unresolved spectrum allocation case, pending since 1995, continue to hamper sector growth.
Members of the Committee also flagged the non-availability of cellular networks in interior Sindh during prolonged load shedding, citing the lack of proper backup systems by telecom operators. The Chairperson directed the PTA and other authorities to provide concrete solutions in the next meeting and summoned the Attorney General, Frequency Allocation Board, PEMRA, and FBR for further deliberations.
The Committee also criticized the taxation regime on online businesses, with the Chairperson highlighting that Pakistan’s e-commerce ecosystem is largely built by small entrepreneurs and young innovators who must be supported rather than burdened with heavy taxes.
On recent social media claims by an Egyptian Member of Parliament about her appointment to Pakistan’s AI advisory experts’ group, the Ministry of IT clarified that no such appointment was ever made and labeled the claim as fake. The Chairperson directed the Ministry to conduct a detailed investigation.
Officials from the Universal Service Fund (USF) informed the Committee that 4,206 sites are operational nationwide, including 22 towers in Gwadar. However, Senators stressed the need to expand coverage in underserved areas to ensure seamless connectivity across the country.
The meeting was attended by Senators Nadeem Ahmed Bhutoo, Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Dr. Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, Syed Kazim Ali Shah, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, and Gurdeep Singh. The Committee concluded by urging stakeholders to prioritize improved connectivity, fair taxation policies, and long-term solutions for Pakistan’s fast-evolving telecom and digital economy.
