News Detail
Event Title: Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication presiding over a meeting of the Committee at Parliament Lodges Islamabad
Event Date: 2026-01-12
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, met today in Islamabad to review matters relating to Corruption, Cybercrime, Data Security, Internet Connectivity, and Digital Governance.
The Committee was briefed on a Corruption case involving Rs. 1.5 crore monthly, wherein the Additional Director General Anti-Money
Laundering, FIA, informed that an FIR has been registered and investigations are underway. He apprised that 13 officers of grades 16 to 19 have been convicted. Of these, three are on protective bail and two have been granted post-arrest bail. Only Rs. 15 lakh has been recovered so far. The Chairperson expressed concern over the delay in finalizing the case and sought a timeline, which the authorities failed to provide.
FIA officials informed that 271 officers were penalized during the last year, which comprises over 5.8 percent of the total FIA strength. Senator Pervaiz Rashid expressed concern over the performance of the FIA and stressed the need for timely preventive measures.
The Committee was informed that while Call Centers are not illegal, many unregistered centers are involved in fraudulent activities. FIA stated that illegal Call Centers operate covertly, making it difficult to ascertain their exact number, but assured continued action against such operations.
NADRA officials briefed the Committee on Data Security Measures. The Chairperson expressed dissatisfaction over NADRA’s handling of data breaches involving dignitaries. The Additional Secretary, Ministry of Interior, informed that over 80 percent of NADRA’s data has been secured through modern protocols and that aliens have been removed from the database. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan recommended to conduct a third-party forensic audit of NADRA, and the Committee further decided to summon the Chairman NADRA in the next meeting to brief the Committee over the latest progress regarding data security.
Regarding weak internet connectivity, the Chairman PTA informed that district-level internet licenses have been introduced to improve services in far-flung areas, with licenses offered at Rs. 300,000. Senator Saadia Abbasi emphasized affordable internet access for communities. The Chairperson directed PTA to submit a report on cellular signal coverage in major cities and one province, particularly highlighting poor coverage along sections of the Peshawar Motorway.
The Committee expressed concern over the remuneration of PTCL Board Members, who receive USD 8,000 per board meeting. The representative of Law Division was directed to submit the policy regarding withdrawal limits exceeding Rs. 1,000,000 by government employees or dignitaries.
The Chairman, Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA), briefed the Committee on its mandate, emphasizing the need for a national digital strategy. He stated that personal data is the property of the individual and must not be shared without consent, adding that artificial intelligence requires both regulation and oversight. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan assured the Committee’s support for necessary legislation to protect the nation.
The meeting was attended by Senators Pervaiz Rashid, Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Saadia Abbasi, and Syed Kazim Ali Shah and Senator Dr Afnan Ullah khan