Syed Amin-ul-Haque, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, praised the country’s Cyber Security teams for their role in protecting Pakistan’s digital frontiers, noting their performance during the May 2025 conflict as a key factor in enhancing Pakistan’s international reputation.
The committee heard that the indigenously developed communication app Beep Pakistan will be formally launched soon, and approved funding for the Special Communications Organization to solarize BTS towers across Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir to promote resilient and sustainable telecom infrastructure.
The Chairman directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to ensure full transparency in the upcoming 5G spectrum auction scheduled for March 10, stressing that the benefits of 5G must reach ordinary consumers through affordable packages. He also underlined that the proposed merger between Ufone and Telenor should be finalized before the auction to maintain a level playing field and prevent market dominance.
Expressing concern over repeated delays, the committee set a firm deadline of June 2026 for completion of the Islamabad IT Park and assigned the Additional Secretary (IT) to oversee the tendering process and the appointment of a reputable contractor for the Karachi IT Park, emphasizing timely delivery and accountability.
During the session, Secretary IT & Telecom Zarrar Hasham Khan and PTA Chairman Maj Gen (R) Hafeez-ur-Rehman briefed members on the PTA’s Web Management System, which has been in operation since 2006 and updated four times. They explained that the WMS is used to manage digital borders and gray traffic and does not impact network speeds, adding that the social platform X remains restricted under government and judicial orders through this system.
DG NCERT Haider Abbas told the committee that more than 500 major cyber-attacks were foiled last year, with another 100 neutralized since January 1, underscoring that Cyber Security is a continuous effort without a fixed timeline but that Pakistan’s digital borders remain defended.
The PTA also outlined the technical roadmap for the 5G auction, which includes six bands—four of them new—and noted that three major operators have deposited the $15 million pre-bid security. The auction of 597 MHz of spectrum is expected to significantly improve 4G speeds to around 20 Mbps in the initial phase and pave the way for 5G rollout in federal and provincial capitals.
