Senate panel voices concern over identity theft of passengers

Some 750 cases of identity theft to unlock smuggled phones unearthed

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Wednesday expressed concern over 750 cases of identity theft of passengers coming from abroad to unlock the smuggled mobile phone sets and devices.

“These cases have been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for legal action,” Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) member Dr Khawar Siddique told the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Communication.

The committee expressed concern over the identity theft of passengers coming from abroad and directed that action should be taken against the culprits under the cyber security laws.

At present, the government can impose a fine of up to Rs1 million and give three-year imprisonment to the person involved in identity theft. Senator Rehman Malik proposed that the prison term should be increased to six years and it should be made a non-bailable offence.

The PTA member was of the view that the data of overseas Pakistanis was being leaked at airports and travel agents were also involved in it. However, the committee voiced doubt that some insiders were involved in the practice.

The procedure of registering mobile phone sets was being made difficult, the committee noted and urged the PTA to streamline the procedure for facilitating the overseas Pakistanis who brought mobile sets to Pakistan.

The parliamentary body raised concern over the registration of mobile phone sets carried by passengers coming from abroad. It said the system should be simplified and there should be an automated system for registering mobile sets. Senators said action should be taken against smugglers rather than passengers coming from abroad who brought mobile sets for their family use.

The committee also stressed the need for manufacturing mobile sets in Pakistan. Officials of the IT ministry said the All Pakistan Computers Association had expressed interest in setting up assembly plants to manufacture mobile phone sets.

They said the issue was taken up with the Board of Investment (BOI). The association wanted some tax exemptions but the BOI refused. They said joint venture investment and public-private partnership were proposed for setting up these plants. The committee was also given a briefing on the IT Park in Islamabad. It was informed that the IT Park would have a capacity of 120 officers, two business centres and laboratories.

Senator Rehman Malik criticised the award of contract to South Korean consultants without competitive bidding. Project director informed the meeting that Exim Bank of Korea had given a loan and it depended on the award of contract to the Korean firm. The committee directed the IT ministry to provide copies of relevant documents.

The PTA registered 9.27 million commercial mobile phone sets and devices in first four months (Jan-Apr) of 2019, the committee was informed.

Total registration of mobile sets under the individual category stood at 440,821 under the FBR’s baggage rule without duty. It registered 12,293 phone sets under the duty-paid category from February to May 2019.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2019.

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