Islamabad: The 18th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Syed Amin ul Haq, MNA, at the Committee Room of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Kohsar Block, Islamabad.
The Committee expressed serious dissatisfaction over the performance of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), noting that complaints raised by members in almost every meeting primarily relate to poor internet quality. It observed that despite PTA's claims in official documents that services are satisfactory, ground realities reflect otherwise, with the public facing severe difficulties and internet services being almost non-existent in several areas. The Committee directed PTA to take immediate and effective measures to improve service quality.
Regarding earlier directions to appoint focal persons for Members of the National Assembly, the Committee acknowledged staffing constraints and instead directed that one officer from each of PTA's twelve zonal offices be nominated to remain in constant coordination with all Members for prompt resolution of issues.
The Committee further directed that the upcoming 5G spectrum auction be conducted in a fair, free, and transparent manner, in full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Recalling its previous directions, the Committee reiterated that the auction should be held in Pakistani Rupees and that spectrum prices should not be fixed unnecessarily high. Any discount or concession granted to telecom operators must be strictly linked to network and infrastructure improvement.
Expressing concern over the continued absence of the Director General of the Special Communications Organization (SCO) despite the agenda being taken up for the third time, the Committee directed that the DG SCO must appear in person in the next meeting. The agenda item was accordingly deferred.
The Committee appreciated the performance of the National Information Technology Board (NITB), terming its work commendable and in the broader national interest. It emphasized continuation of its efforts with the same commitment and directed that all matters of the Standing Committee on IT be processed through the e-Office system, making the Committee completely paperless. All briefings and agenda items are to be shared with Members on the tablets already provided to them before upcoming meetings.
The Committee also deliberated on The Prevention of Obscenity and Indecency in Digital Media Bill, 2025, moved by Ms. Shahida Rehmani, MNA. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) informed the Committee that existing legislation, particularly the PECA Act, already covers such matters, and a new law would lead to overlapping provisions. In view of this, the mover withdrew the Bill. The Committee advised Members to consult NCCIA to identify any gaps in existing laws and address them within the current cybercrime legal framework, rather than creating a new authority.
Besides the Federal Minister, the meeting was attended by MNAs Ahmad Atteeq Anwar, Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Syed Ali Qasim Gillani, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, Sadiq Ali Memon, Sharmila Sahiba Faruqi Hashaam, Ahmad Saleem Siddiqui, Aasia Ishaque Siddiqui, Pullain Baloch, and Ms. Shahida Rehmani, along with officials of the Ministry and its attached departments.