Foreign pressure stalls data protection law

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications was told on Thursday that Pakistan is facing external pressure not to enact laws securing citizens' data.

During a meeting of the committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan at the Parliament House, IT ministry officials said work on the draft Data Protection Bill is ongoing, with consultations underway with stakeholders.

Senator Afnanullah of the PML-N revealed that the government is being pressured from abroad not to legislate on data protection. "If no law is made, the country will continue to suffer massive losses. Data theft is already a billion-rupee black market," he said.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman also briefed the committee, confirming that Pakistani citizens' data frequently appears on the dark web.

"Around 300,000 Hajj applicants' data has been leaked. This requires a high-level investigation," he said. He added that an inquiry was initiated in 2022 and has now been taken up by the Interior Ministry.

Senators also expressed concern over board members of state-run telecom companies allegedly receiving large perks. Senator Kamran Murtaza stated that these members get $5,000 per meeting and foreign trips. "Perhaps we too should be added to such boards," he quipped. The committee also criticized the IT ministry for failing to present the Data Protection Bill despite repeated assurances.

The chairperson demanded transparency in appointing members to the boards of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Ufone, stressing the need for public accountability.

During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT on Thursday, the Ministry of Information Technology stated that internet speed in Pakistan had slowed due to submarine cables being cut off the coast of Yemen.

According to the ministry, telecom companies had shifted bandwidth to alternative routes, but restoration might take four to five weeks.

During the meeting chaired by MNA Syed Aminul Haque, IT and Telecom Secretary Zarrar Hashim Khan said that not one or two, but four to five submarine cables had been severed near Yemen.

"Two of the cables supplying Pakistan have been affected, forcing companies to divert bandwidth to alternate routes. Repairing such cables requires special ships, and full restoration could take a month."

The committee was told that three new submarine cables would become operational within 12 to 18 months, linking Pakistan directly with Europe. Agreements for these cables have already been signed.

Committee member Sadiq Memon questioned why problems persist if three new cables are already planned. The secretary reiterated that multiple cable cuts off Yemen had created a serious situation and Pakistan's connectivity was directly impacted.