On Tuesday, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications will meet to discuss a wide range of topics, including mobile services, data security, digital governance, and allegations of NCCIA corruption.
Members of the committee will receive a comprehensive presentation on the issue of the closure of mobile services in District Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as outlined in the committee’s agenda. This was an issue that Senator Atta-ur-Rehman previously brought up during the Senate session on November 13.
In addition, the committee has summoned the Secretary of Interior and the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad to provide an explanation of the safeguards in place to safeguard citizen data gathered through the ICT Household Survey app, particularly in the absence of comprehensive legislation regarding data protection.
Officials will be asked to explain which government agencies will have access to the data and which authority will serve as the data repository.
A presentation on how Islamabad’s E-tag-based vehicle monitoring system works, how its data center works, and security measures to protect real-time traffic and identification data are also important.
The committee has called the Director General of the NCCIA to respond to media reports, particularly those carried by the media, that NCCIA officials receive bribes of Rs 1.5 crore per month from illegal call centers. This is a significant development. The committee will request an update on the responses to these allegations.
Additionally, telecom-related governance and audit issues will be examined by members. The committee has asked for information about PTCL’s most recent audit, as well as the names, designations, compensation per meeting, and frequency of meetings for the Ufone Board of Directors over the past two years.
The committee has asked the Chairman of PTA to provide an update on VPN licensing, including the current framework, obstacles, and steps businesses must take to obtain future VPN licenses.
The telecom industry’s rising costs to customers will also be the subject of attention. The Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications will provide the committee with an update on the drastic price hikes for mobile data and call packages, as well as the measures taken to safeguard consumer rights.
In addition, the Universal Service Fund (USF) CEO will present a compliance report that addresses a number of mobile network issues that senators have previously brought up, particularly connectivity issues that affect underserved areas.
As Pakistan faces increasing difficulties in digital security, cyber governance, telecom affordability, and public data protection, the meeting will provide crucial guidelines for federal ministries and regulators.
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