Rising Diesel Theft at Telecom Tower Forces Senate Action

A subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has called for stronger legal protection for telecom infrastructure while reviewing nationwide internet connectivity issues and the growing problem of diesel theft from telecom towers.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Sadia Abbasi, focused on how fuel theft and security challenges are affecting the continuity of telecom services. Officials from the Ministry of IT and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) briefed lawmakers on the issue.

Officials from the Ministry of IT said better coordination with provincial police authorities is needed to tackle diesel theft from telecom towers. They added that security concerns in certain parts of the country continue to create operational challenges for telecom infrastructure.

PTA officials said laws against theft already exist, but telecom operators often fail to register First Information Reports (FIRs) after diesel theft incidents, making it difficult to take legal action.

The Ministry of IT said the PTA is the regulator responsible for overseeing the operations of all telecom operators under existing laws. Officials warned that operators could face cancellation of their licenses if they fail to comply with regulatory requirements.

PTA representatives said telecom companies have now been directed to ensure that FIRs are filed whenever diesel or other equipment is stolen from telecom sites.

PTA officials also said telecom operators are increasingly using surveillance cameras instead of security guards to monitor tower sites and prevent theft. They added that the main challenge is not only preventing theft but also ensuring that operators take the required legal action after such incidents. According to the PTA, operators have often avoided filing cases because of difficulties in the FIR registration process.

Senator Sadia Abbasi said telecommunications have become an essential public service and stressed that stronger legislation should be considered to protect telecom infrastructure from theft. She noted that the theft of diesel and equipment from telecom towers directly affects communication services.

The subcommittee directed authorities to review international legal frameworks for protecting telecom infrastructure and asked the Ministry of IT to submit written recommendations. The committee will prepare its own recommendations after reviewing the ministry’s response.