The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT and Telecom has summoned the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) due to recent disruptions and slowdowns of WhatsApp and internet services in the country.
Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima, while briefing the committee, announced the government’s plan to launch 5G technology in the first quarter of 2025.
During the meeting, chaired by Syed Amin ul Haq at the Parliament House, discussions included the establishment of the Telecommunications Appellate Tribunal. Ministry officials stated that the tribunal’s creation is in progress under the Telecom Act. Once operational, pending cases in the High Courts will be transferred to the Telecom Tribunal.
The committee chairman stressed the need for transparency in tribunal appointments, ensuring the chairman is appointed on merit. Committee member Sadiq Ali Memon suggested that the Law and Justice Department should outline the appointment procedures, while Mukhtar Ahmed advocated for an arbitration option within the tribunal. The committee expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of Ministry of Law and Justice representatives and requested details on the tribunal’s appointment procedures for the next meeting.
Mustafa Kamal, a committee member, highlighted the challenges of legally bringing even $100 into Pakistan, emphasizing the IT sector’s potential to revive the economy. The IT minister said that smartphones and laptops are essential, noting that taxes have been imposed to curb mobile phone smuggling. She clarified that these taxes are collected by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), not the PTA. The committee chairman argued against taxing mobile phones and laptops, congratulating the ministry on the increase in IT exports.
The committee addressed ongoing issues with WhatsApp, attributing responsibility to the PTA and requesting a briefing on the matter in the next meeting. The committee also recommended a policy change for the 5G launch, with the IT minister noting that work has begun on this initiative. The Ministry has set a target for the first quarter of 2025 for the 5G launch, with consultant shortlisting underway.
The committee chairman acknowledged the challenges faced by telecom companies with dollar payments and emphasized the importance of facilitating public and business operations through 5G. He suggested installment-based payments for companies and urged the government to extend 5G to all cities. Haq also noted the global shift towards 5.5G and 6G while Pakistan remains on 4G, advocating for policy changes inspired by models from Singapore, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
The committee received comprehensive briefings from heads of the Ministry of IT and Telecom’s subsidiary organizations, including the Universal Service Fund, Ignite, Virtual University, and Telecom Foundation, regarding their performance, future plans, and achievements.