Mobile connectivity issues have been affecting Tharparkar district for the past six months, as highlighted during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication. Lawmaker Mahesh Kumar Malani raised the issue, stating that a complaint had been lodged six months ago but remained unresolved. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) DG Enforcement assured the committee that the regulator is working towards resolving the issue. The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) Secretary explained that the problem was due to a minor technical issue that would be resolved soon.
Additionally, some lawmakers complained about poor internet services in Islamabad’s Red Zone, where only 2G services are available around the Parliament Lodges. PTA officials informed the committee that telecom operators are fined for poor services, and the regulator conducts surveys to improve the quality of service in the country. However, policy setbacks have hindered progress, with officials citing a request for a tower in Quetta’s Red Zone that has been pending for three years.
During the meeting, the committee also approved the demands of the MoITT for ongoing and new schemes for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in the fiscal year 2023-24. In another matter, MNA Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali criticized Telenor for its poor services in Chitral, adding that despite the talk of 5G and 6G technology, the mobile signals remain weak. The PTA officials assured the lawmaker that his complaint has been received and that Telenor has been issued a notice, with a response sought. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecom Mohsin Mushtaq and members of the lower house.