ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT & Telecom expressed strong concerns on Tuesday about the country’s sluggish internet services, reprimanding telecom operators for not meeting service expectations. The Committee has called on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to conduct nationwide surveys to assess and improve internet quality and coverage.
Chairman Syed Aminul Haq directed PTA to carry out these special surveys, with Committee members also planning to personally evaluate internet service quality. He instructed PTA to present a detailed report at the next meeting.
During the briefing, PTA officials stated that while 273 MHz of spectrum is currently available in the country, it remains insufficient to meet the growing demand for internet services. They mentioned that the government intends to auction 600 MHz of spectrum across various bands, with plans moving forward for the auction of 5G spectrum.
The Committee also reviewed progress on the Islamabad IT Park project, which has faced delays. The consultant’s contract expired on October 31, but the renewal process is underway and expected to be completed soon. The Committee reiterated the Prime Minister’s directive to complete the project by December 31, 2025.
As for the Karachi IT Park, the project is in its early stages, with the contract expected to be awarded soon. A delegation from Korea is set to visit on December 2, 2025, to finalize the remaining details. The Committee urged the swift awarding of the contract to prevent delays and stressed that the project must be completed within the two-year timeline.
The Committee was also briefed on the National Telecommunication Corporation’s (NTC) future plans, which include providing secure mobile connectivity for government officials and establishing new data centers in Karachi and Quetta. These initiatives are part of NTC’s broader strategy to enhance cybersecurity and expand reliable IT and telecom services for the public sector.
Members of the Committee praised the NTC’s efforts, noting that its ongoing projects were progressing well. However, they advised the NTC to focus on rightsizing rather than downsizing, ensuring that no employees are laid off and that staff are reassigned to areas where their services are most needed.
Lastly, the Committee decided to defer the discussion on “The Prevention of Obscenity and Indecency in Digital Media Bill, 2025” to the next meeting due to the absence of the bill’s mover.
