IT secretary dismisses claims of firewall shutdown as baseless

The Ministry of Information Technology’s secretary has dismissed reports of a firewall shutdown as baseless, confirming that the web monitoring system remains fully operational and is being used to comply with court orders.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom held a detailed meeting to discuss the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, the status of the web monitoring system (firewall), and IT export-related matters.

During the session, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman briefed the committee on the 5G spectrum auction, scheduled for March 10 at a local hotel in Islamabad. A control room will be set up at PTA headquarters, and the final date for bid submission is February 27. The chairman confirmed that all major telecom operators will participate, each having deposited a mandatory $15 million pre-bid guarantee.

The committee also addressed concerns regarding the firewall system used to monitor social media platforms. Committee member Sadiq Memon asked whether its installation could conflict with the 5G auction. The PTA chairman clarified that the system is designed to protect Pakistan’s digital boundaries and does not hinder the implementation of new technologies, including 5G.

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DG Licencing Amir Shehzad explained that six spectrum bands, including four new bands, would be auctioned. He added that the government issued a policy directive based on a consultant’s report, after which the PTA released an information memorandum to guide the auction process.

The committee was also informed that the merger of telecom companies Ufone and Telenor would be finalised before the 5G auction. The PTA chairman said the merger is in its final stages, with documents currently under review.

National Assembly panel chairman Aminul Haq instructed that the merger be carried out in a manner that avoids creating a monopoly, to which the PTA chairman responded that a cap has been imposed to prevent market dominance.

On IT exports, committee member Dr Zulfiqar noted that much of the growth is driven by freelancers and questioned the role of the IT ministry. The IT secretary responded that globally, IT export growth is largely driven by the private sector.