Senate Panel Criticizes PTA for Snubbing Internet Issues Briefing

Staff Report: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) faced significant criticism during a Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology meeting held on Thursday.

The committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, expressed dissatisfaction with the PTA’s refusal to brief the committee on the persistent issue of internet slowdowns across the country. This refusal fueled tensions, with some members threatening to stage a walkout in protest.PTA Launches its Official WhatsApp Channel

Senator Afnanullah voiced his concerns, stating that while the PTA had briefed the Assembly Committee, it had ignored the Senate, a slight that was not taken lightly by the Upper House members.

PTA officials explained that the recent internet disruptions stemmed from a malfunction in one of the country’s seven submarine cables.

The fault, discovered on June 18, affected 1.5 terabytes per second of Pakistan’s total data capacity of 3.5 terabytes per second. Officials further noted that increased internet traffic and the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) had strained the system.

In response to these issues, Senator Afnanullah urged the PTA not to block VPNs, while Senator Anusha Rehman questioned the PTA’s measures, criticizing them for their ineffectiveness, especially concerning the continued operation of platforms like Twitter despite restrictions.

During the session, Chairperson Palwasha Khan raised concerns over the PTA’s transparency, especially regarding the employment of consultants. She demanded a clear explanation and accused the PTA of failing to provide adequate information.

The chairperson further questioned the PTA’s efforts to shut down certain apps, inquiring whether such practices were widespread in other countries. Senator Anusha Rehman cited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an example where WhatsApp calls are blocked, yet residents circumvent the restrictions using VPNs. She criticized the PTA for its perceived lack of effectiveness in enforcing compliance with such restrictions.

In a parallel briefing, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) presented an overview of Pakistan’s IT sector. However, the Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima, and the PTA Chairman did not attend the meeting, leading to further dissatisfaction. PSEB officials reported that 26,000 IT companies were registered in Pakistan, contributing less than 0.04% to the global IT market valued at $5 trillion. The IT sector in Pakistan grew by 24% last year, with 54% of IT exports directed to the United States, 21% to Europe, 10% to Gulf countries, and 14% to the Asia-Pacific region.

Senator Palwasha Khan directed the IT Ministry to submit a report on the quality of education provided by IT training institutes across Pakistan. She also requested details on internships and scholarships facilitated by the PSEB. Senator Anusha Rehman expressed frustration with the PSEB’s data, which only covered the period from 2018 onwards, demanding a more comprehensive report.

The discussion also extended to the delayed Karachi and Islamabad IT Park projects. Officials revealed that the Karachi IT Park project, valued at $187 million, was progressing as planned. However, the Islamabad IT Park project, originally scheduled for completion by June 2025, faced delays due to issues with funding and land allocation. Despite these setbacks, officials assured the committee that the Islamabad IT Park would be completed by February 2025.

Finally, the committee raised concerns regarding the appointment process of the IT Secretary, with Senator Afnanullah criticizing the quality of the recruitment and emphasizing that the last five to six years could have seen better progress with improved hirings.