The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication on Wednesday received a comprehensive briefing on recent cyber attacks on Pakistan and the security of surveillance systems, including Safe City cameras, during a meeting held at Parliament House.
The briefing was sought in the wake of recent incidents involving the hacking of Tehran traffic cameras by Israeli authorities to attack the Supreme Leader of Iran. Officials from the IT Ministry and Interior Ministry informed the committee about the measures being taken to protect digital platforms and real-time monitoring systems from cyber threats after reports that Tehran’s traffic camera network had been infiltrated during a foreign intelligence operation.
The session was chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, chairperson of the committee.
Mobile Service Closure
During the meeting, the committee also took up a point of public importance raised by Senator Atta-ur-Rehman regarding the closure of mobile services in District Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The matter had earlier been discussed during the Senate sitting held on 13 November 2025.
Members sought an explanation from the relevant authorities about the reasons for the suspension of mobile networks and their impact on the local population.
USF Telecom Projects in Balochistan
The committee also received a briefing on telecom development projects being implemented under the Universal Service Fund in Balochistan.
Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan had sought details regarding projects in Qila Abdullah. Officials provided information on approved budget allocations, the current progress of the projects, expected completion dates, and the number of villages and public sector institutions expected to benefit from the expansion of internet and telecommunications facilities in remote areas.
Telecom Regulatory Matters
The committee also discussed regulatory matters related to the telecom sector.
Senator Shahadat Awan had asked whether Telecom Competition Rules had been notified as required under section 57 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996. Relevant authorities presented their response before the committee.
Cyber Protection Measures
In addition, the Secretary Interior, Chairman of NADRA, Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, and the Director General of the National Cyber Emergency Response Team briefed the committee on the arrangements being made to safeguard official data from cyber attacks.
The meeting also reviewed data protection measures related to the ICT Household Survey application. Discussions included the absence of formal data protection laws, the authority responsible for data storage, and the mechanism for granting access to government agencies.
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