ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, chaired by MNA Syed Aminul Haque, met in Islamabad to discuss the recent internet disruptions, progress on the Islamabad IT Park project, and complaints over poor mobile and internet services across the country.

During the session, the committee was briefed on the suspected submarine cable fault near Yemen that affected Pakistan’s internet speed. Committee Chairman Aminul Haque inquired whether the issue had been resolved. However, the IT and Telecom Secretary clarified that the fault had not yet been fixed, though the consortium responsible for the submarine cable was actively working on repairs. He added that Pakistan’s internet traffic had been shifted to alternative routes to ensure connectivity.

Islamabad IT Park project behind schedule

Officials from the Ministry of IT briefed the committee on the progress of the Islamabad IT Park. Project Director informed that around 80 percent of the work had been completed, with efforts underway to meet the completion targets.
Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, highlighted that the project’s official deadline of October 31 would likely be missed due to multiple delays, including frequent changes of the Korean project directors.

She noted that the project is being built and funded by a Korean partner, which has faced several technical and administrative challenges. “The Prime Minister has already ordered an inquiry into the delays,” she said, adding that efforts were being made to find a middle ground to ensure timely completion.

“If this project becomes controversial, it could affect similar IT park initiatives in other cities,” she cautioned, emphasizing the government’s commitment to work with the Korean company to complete the park.

Shaza Fatima urged restraint from public commentary until the project’s completion and suggested that today’s meeting should have been held in-camera due to legal sensitivities surrounding the project.

Efforts to boost IT infrastructure nationwide

The Minister further informed the committee that the Ministry of IT is establishing Special Technology Parks across the country, including a recently launched women-focused Technology Park in Bagh, Azad Kashmir.
She said 50 e-Rozgar Centres have been established to provide co-working spaces for freelancers and youth.

Shaza Fatima also noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had abolished Right-of-Way (RoW) charges, which were previously higher in Pakistan than in other regional countries. “With NHA, CDA, and federal departments removing RoW charges, a new ecosystem for fiberisation is taking shape,” she said, adding that 60 percent of mobile towers are planned to be connected to fiber networks.

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Parliamentarians slam poor mobile and internet services

Committee members expressed strong dissatisfaction over poor connectivity and mobile signals in smaller cities.
MNA Engineer Rana Atique stressed that IT infrastructure development should not be limited to major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

MNA Zulfiqar Bhatti voiced frustration over the lack of mobile signals and internet in his constituency, saying, “Are our children not entitled to the same rights as others? Are we here just to sign attendance sheets?”

He criticized the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for its inaction and claimed that the Universal Service Fund (USF) surveys present an overly positive picture. “They come, do surveys, and report that everything is fine,” he said.

Responding to the concerns, Shaza Fatima explained that service issues stem from spectrum congestion. “The entire country is operating on just 274 MHz — even if more towers are installed, it won’t improve connectivity without new spectrum,” she said, adding that the government plans to conduct a spectrum auction by January or February next year.

Tense exchange during meeting

The session also witnessed heated exchanges between Minister Shaza Fatima and MNA Zulfiqar Bhatti, who accused the minister of being dismissive of lawmakers’ concerns. Bhatti even attempted to walk out of the meeting but was persuaded to stay by Chairman Aminul Haque.