NA panel raps telecom firms over slow internet

The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT & Telecom on Tuesday expressed concern over the country's slow internet performance and reprimanded telecom operators for failing to meet service expectations.

The Committee directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to conduct comprehensive nationwide surveys and take immediate, practical steps to improve the quality and coverage of internet services across the country.

Chairman Syed Aminul Haq instructed the PTA to carry out special surveys, adding that Committee members would assess internet service quality themselves. He ordered that a detailed report be presented at the Committee's next meeting.

While briefing the Committee, PTA officials said that 273 MHz of spectrum was currently available in the country, but it remained insufficient to meet growing internet demand. They added that the government planned to sell 600 MHz of spectrum across various bands and that the process was now moving toward the auction of 5G.

Reviewing progress on the Islamabad IT Park project, the Committee was informed that the consultant's contract had expired on October 31. The contractor has begun the renewal process, which is expected to be finalised shortly. The Committee reiterated the prime minister's timeline to complete the project by December 31, 2025.

Regarding the Karachi IT Park, the Committee noted that the project was in its initial stages and that the contract was expected to be awarded soon. A delegation from Korea is scheduled to visit on December 2, 2025, to finalise outstanding matters related to the contract. The Committee directed that the award be expedited to ensure work begins without delay and stressed that the project must be completed within the stipulated two-year period.

The managing director of the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) briefed the Committee on future initiatives, including plans to provide secure mobile connectivity for government officials and establish new data centres in Karachi and Quetta.

The Committee was told these initiatives form part of the NTC's broader strategic plan to strengthen cybersecurity and expand reliable IT and telecom services for public-sector institutions. Members appreciated the NTC's performance and acknowledged that its ongoing projects were satisfactory.

However, the Committee advised the NTC to avoid downsizing and instead adopt a rightsizing approach, ensuring no employee is laid off and staff are placed where their services are genuinely required.

The Committee decided to defer "The Prevention of Obscenity and Indecency in Digital Media Bill, 2025" to its next meeting due to the mover's absence.