On November 18, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT and Telecom directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to conduct comprehensive nationwide surveys to address the slowdown in internet services and present a detailed report at its next meeting. The Committee also reviewed progress on major IT infrastructure projects and received briefings on upcoming initiatives in the public telecom sector.

During the meeting, Committee chairman Syed Amin ul Haq instructed PTA officials to carry out special quality-assessment surveys and take immediate practical measures to improve internet speed and coverage. PTA officials informed the panel that 273 MHz of spectrum was currently available in the country, but demand for high-speed internet had exceeded capacity. They added that the government planned to auction 600 MHz of spectrum across various bands as the process moved toward the rollout of 5G.

The Committee reviewed the Islamabad IT Park project and was informed that the consultant’s contract expired on October 31, with the contractor initiating the renewal process. The panel reiterated the prime minister’s deadline of December 31, 2025, for the project’s completion.

Regarding the Karachi IT Park, the Committee noted that the project remained in its initial stages and that a contract award was expected soon. Officials reported that a delegation from South Korea would visit on December 2 to finalise pending matters. The Committee directed that the contract be awarded without delay to ensure completion within the stipulated two-year period.

The managing director of the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) briefed the Committee on planned initiatives, including secure mobile connectivity for government officials and new data centres in Karachi and Quetta. The panel was informed that these projects were part of a broader strategy to enhance cybersecurity and strengthen IT and telecom services for public-sector institutions.

Committee members acknowledged the NTC’s ongoing projects as satisfactory and advised the organisation to avoid downsizing. Instead, they recommended adopting a rightsizing approach to ensure employees were retained and appropriately placed according to operational needs.

The Committee also deferred consideration of “The Prevention of Obscenity and Indecency in Digital Media Bill, 2025” to its next meeting due to the absence of the bill’s mover.