ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology was informed that reports about the shutdown of a so called internet firewall ahead of the upcoming fifth generation spectrum auction were incorrect, with officials clarifying that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s Web Monitoring System remains fully operational. At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Chairman Syed Aminul Haque referred to circulating claims regarding the removal of the firewall, prompting Member of the National Assembly Sadiq Memon to request a detailed briefing on the system, its purpose, and the difference between a traditional firewall and the Web Monitoring System. Information Technology Secretary Zarar Hashim Khan categorically denied that any such system had been dismantled, stating that the Web Monitoring System continues to function and has not caused delays in internet services or disruptions in network performance.
Following the secretary’s remarks, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman explained that the term firewall was being used colloquially to describe the Web Monitoring System, which has been in place since 2006 and has undergone four upgrades, the most recent completed in 2023. He told lawmakers that the system was designed to safeguard Pakistan’s digital connectivity, combat grey traffic in telephony, block illegal websites, and restrict social media platforms when directed by the government or under court orders. Emphasizing the importance of protecting digital borders, he stated that the system had helped thwart cyberattacks originating from India during periods of heightened tensions, while reiterating that any blocking of platforms was carried out strictly under legal directives rather than as a routine measure.
Officials further clarified that the Web Monitoring System does not slow down internet speeds, delay services, or obstruct emerging technologies such as fifth generation connectivity. The committee was informed that social media platforms had been blocked seven times so far on government instructions or pursuant to court orders, but that the system was not capable of targeting individual accounts. A senior official from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication cited the continued operation of the X account of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf founder Imran Khan during his imprisonment as evidence that the system does not function at the account level, arguing that if it had such capability, authorities would not have needed to approach the platform’s management separately.
The briefing took place as Pakistan prepares for its fifth generation spectrum auction scheduled for March 10, with all three telecom operators — Jazz, Ufone, and Zong — expressing their intention to participate. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority chairman noted that over the past 12 years, four spectrum auctions had been conducted, releasing a total of 69 megahertz, whereas the upcoming auction will offer 597 megahertz with a minimum requirement of 100 megahertz per participant. He said that increased spectrum availability would not only enable the rollout of fifth generation services but also enhance and expand fourth generation coverage nationwide, assuring lawmakers that regulatory safeguards remain intact to protect national cyber infrastructure while ensuring uninterrupted telecommunications services.
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