Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has scheduled a session on December 9 to review the sharp increase in mobile data and call package rates. Ministry of IT officials have been directed to provide a detailed briefing on recent tariff hikes and the steps taken to ensure consumer rights are protected. The committee will also receive updates from Minister for IT and Telecom regarding actions taken by mobile operators and the regulatory response to public complaints.
The agenda includes a review of Senator Atta ur Rehman’s concerns over the suspension of mobile services in District Lakki Marwat. Officials from Interior Ministry and Islamabad administration have been asked to clarify how data collected through ICT Household Survey app is stored, who has access to it, and the security measures implemented to safeguard sensitive information. A separate briefing will cover Islamabad’s vehicle monitoring system and the real-time data protection protocols for E tag users.
The committee will also investigate allegations reported in media regarding Rs. 1.5 crore per month in bribes allegedly collected from illegal call centers by National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency officials. Director General NCCIA has been asked to outline internal controls and provide details on actions taken to date. Lawmakers will seek information about PTCL’s last audit along with the names, designations, meeting frequency, and remuneration of Ufone’s Board of Directors for the past two years. PTA Chairman has been instructed to brief the committee on licensing rules for Virtual Private Networks and outline the procedures companies must follow for obtaining VPN permissions in the future.
CEO of Universal Service Fund will present a compliance report addressing mobile coverage complaints raised by parliamentarians, covering regions including Sukkur, Karachi on M-9, N-5 highway, districts in Balochistan, Umerkot, Abbottabad, and Kashmore. Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan will chair the session at Old PIPS Hall in Islamabad, urging full attendance from members to ensure all telecom and digital issues on the agenda are comprehensively reviewed.
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