A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication convened at Parliament Lodges in Islamabad on December 9, 2025, opening with the recitation of the Holy Quran and presided over by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan. Other members present included Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Senator Sadia Abbasi and Senator Atta-ur-Rehman.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication briefed the Committee on a Point of Public Importance raised by Senator Atta-ur-Rehman concerning alleged mobile service suspension in District Lakki Marwat. The Ministry reported that, according to available records, no telecom services are currently suspended in Behram Khel on Tajori Road, Lakki Marwat, but offered to share Point of Contact details with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to investigate any localized outages. Officials clarified that service suspension requests are processed by the Ministry of Interior and implemented by PTA through telecom operators, and the chair directed a shift to solar-powered solutions and immediate repair of non-functional towers to minimise disruptions.
The Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication addressed concerns about rising mobile data and call package costs and outlined measures to protect consumer rights. The Minister noted that Pakistan offers highly affordable data-only mobile broadband compared with regional peers and stressed that affordability remains a key measure of national digital progress.
During the Senate Telecom briefing, the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority explained the licensing framework for Virtual Private Network services, noting that applicants must be legally registered entities, such as SECP-registered companies or firms, to obtain a Data Class License. PTA has issued six Data Class Licenses for data services while one entity was allowed to operate under an existing license, and five of seven licensees have procured commencement certificates to begin operations.
The Secretary Interior and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad outlined data protection measures for information collected through the ICT Household Survey App in the absence of comprehensive data protection legislation. They said the survey was launched under the Prime Minister’s directives to bolster public security and maintain accurate residential records covering homeowners, tenants, foreign nationals and domestic workers. Conducted in collaboration with NADRA, officials reported that 28,594 door-to-door surveys have been completed and briefed the Committee on vehicle monitoring using E-Tags in Islamabad, the data centre infrastructure and real-time data security mechanisms.
The Committee expressed deep concern over reported incidents of leakage and sale of private data of prominent individuals, with the Chair noting increased citizen vulnerability to security threats. Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan demanded strict action and penalisation of any NADRA officials found complicit in data leaks, and the Chair instructed NADRA representatives to appear at the next Committee meeting to address these concerns.
The Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency informed the Committee about media reports alleging illegal payments of Rs. 1.5 crore per month from illegal call centres, stating that two First Information Reports have been registered, one in Lahore and another in Islamabad. The Chair directed that representatives of the Federal Investigation Agency be present at the next session for further accountability and updates.
The PTA Chairman also updated the Committee on the most recent audit of PTCL and provided details about the Board of Directors of Ufone, including designations, meeting fees and the number of meetings held over the past two years. The Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Service Fund presented a compliance report addressing mobile network complaints from senators covering areas such as the Sukkur–Karachi corridor (M-9/N-5), several localities in Balochistan, Tehsil Kharoro Syed in Umerkot, Gali Samli in Abbottabad and District Kashmore. The Chair directed that Senator Poonjo Bheel and MNA Ali Jan Mazari be invited to the next meeting for further deliberation.
The Committee left the session with multiple directives aimed at restoring uninterrupted services, strengthening data protection in government surveys and ensuring coordination between PTA, NADRA, FIA and other stakeholders. The Senate Telecom review will continue with follow-up appearances and targeted action to address service outages, VPN licensing compliance and the prevention of data breaches.
