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 House, Islamabad.
Event Date: 2026-09-24
Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication Reviews Internet Performance, Telecom Competition Rules, Social Media Regulation, Cyber Fraud and Consumer Tariffs
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication met today under the Chairpersonship of Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan and reviewed a wide-ranging agenda items.
Senators Kamran Murtaza, Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Senator Saadia Abbasi and Senator Shahadat Awan attended the meeting. The Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, also participated along with senior officials of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other relevant departments.
The Committee considered the proposed Telecommunication Competition Rules. Ministry of IT and Telecommunication officials sought additional time to finalise the rules, explaining that consultation with telecom operators and other stakeholders is underway. Ministry officials further informed that consultation with telecom operators was essential before finalising the competition rules and assured the Committee that the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) would also be consulted.
The Committee also examined the issue of recoveries from Etisalat and the outstanding property-related matter involving Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
Ministry officials said the issue of properties that had not yet been transferred remained unresolved. To expedite the resolution, the Committee decided to jointly discuss the matter with the Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation.
Additional Director NCCIA briefed the Committee that accounts containing blasphemous material are blocked and action is taken against those responsible. The Committee directed that the investigation process be expedited.
The Committee also stressed the need for Pakistan to develop and launch its own social media application for messaging and secure communication and sought briefing on the proposed Pakistani application.
The Committee received briefings from FIA and NCCIA officials on alleged fraud of Rs172 billion through call centres. FIA officials told that fraud was allegedly committed after companies were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for a short duration. It was further told that technical experts were required to investigate call-centre-related fraud and that such expertise was available with NCCIA, therefore, the matter is being sent to them.
NCCIA officials were of the view that Pakistan needed to improve its visa issuance system.The officials said the State Bank of Pakistan and SECP would also need to strengthen their mechanisms.
The Committee received a briefing on allegations that one of the country's largest telecom companies had charged consumers additional amounts. To probe further in the matter, the Committee decided to constitute a Sub-Committee to examine the alleged overcharging by the private telecom company.