The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications expressed strong dissatisfaction during its latest meeting chaired by Syed Amin Ul Haque, directed at the Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication and the Secretary for Information Technology, both of whom were absent from the proceedings. The committee raised a range of concerns during the session, covering the deteriorating quality of mobile and internet services across Pakistan, the conduct of ministry officials during the Gilgit-Baltistan election period, and the non-attendance of the Chief Executive Officer of Ignite at the meeting.
Committee Chairman Amin Ul Haque criticised telecom operators including Jazz, Zong, and Ufone for reducing the capacity of their customer helplines rather than expanding support infrastructure to meet growing consumer demand. He urged PTA to take strict regulatory action against operators providing substandard services, including the issuance of show-cause notices and the imposition of financial penalties on those failing to meet acceptable service quality benchmarks. The criticism of helpline reductions reflects a broader complaint that has been gaining traction among consumers who report increased difficulty reaching operator support when connectivity issues arise, a problem that has become more acute as prolonged load shedding continues to disrupt mobile network services across the country.
Member of the National Assembly Sadiq Memon raised pointed questions about the government’s strategy for improving mobile and internet quality, asking directly whether service standards would genuinely improve even after the introduction of fifth or sixth generation mobile technologies. He stressed that millions of users remain deeply dissatisfied with existing 4G connectivity and that the rollout of newer generation networks would deliver limited benefit if the structural deficiencies in current service quality are not addressed first. His remarks echo a sentiment that has been consistently voiced in recent parliamentary sessions, with the gap between official announcements about network upgrades and the lived experience of ordinary mobile users remaining a persistent source of public frustration.
The committee also objected strongly to the timing of a visit by IT ministry officials to Gilgit-Baltistan, which coincided with the election period in the region. Members argued that the timing raised questions about the neutrality of government officials, with Memon alleging that the officials were present to support a political campaign rather than for official purposes. Ministry representatives maintained that the visit had been scheduled in advance and was connected to official duties, but acknowledged that the trip could have been postponed following the election announcement. The absence of the Ignite Chief Executive Officer from the meeting drew additional criticism from the chairman, with officials explaining that the Ignite leadership was also in Gilgit-Baltistan alongside senior ministry officers. The committee concluded by demanding stronger regulatory measures from PTA and a clearer, publicly communicated strategy from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for addressing the quality of telecom services nationwide.
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