The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication is set to take up a wide ranging agenda on Monday, including the reported rebranding of Ufone following its merger with Telenor, Starlink’s launch, $800 million in outstanding Etisalat dues, and alleged overcharging of mobile users by Jazz. The committee will also examine internet shutdowns, telecom competition rules, security concerns over satellite connectivity, alleged transfer of sensitive government officials’ data to foreign entities, and employment issues at Pak Datacom, making this one of the more expansive single session agendas the committee has tackled in recent months. The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) will brief the committee on the reported change of Ufone’s name to “e&” following the Ufone-Telenor merger, an issue that has remained unresolved since the federal government intervened in July to halt the rebranding over concerns about removing “Pakistan” from the telecom operator’s corporate identity and questions over whether the Ufone board had the authority to approve such a move.
The committee will also seek an updated briefing on the launch of Starlink operations in Pakistan, amid continued interest in satellite based internet services for underserved and remote areas, alongside a separate briefing by the IT Secretary on the reported shift of Pak Datacom to a foreign satellite, with members expected to examine the associated national security concerns. Another key issue on the agenda is the reported $800 million outstanding amount owed by Etisalat in connection with the privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), with the committee also seeking minutes of PTCL board meetings held during the last six months. The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Auditor General of Pakistan will separately brief the committee on a purported audit report alleging that Jazz charged mobile users Rs6.58 billion in excess, along with a reported provision allowing the operator to increase tariffs by up to 15 percent quarterly, with the committee expected to seek details of any action PTA has taken to safeguard mobile consumers’ rights if the audit findings are substantiated.
Beyond the telecom operator specific issues, the committee will take up a serious cybersecurity matter involving the alleged obtaining and transfer of sensitive personal data of Pakistani government officers to foreign entities, with the Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) set to brief members on the alleged data transfer, the magnitude of the threat, and measures being taken to prevent future breaches. The committee will also consider a point of public importance raised by Senator Atta-ur-Rehman concerning the closure of mobile services in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a matter that was originally raised in the Senate sitting back on November 13, 2025, and has apparently remained unresolved since then. A briefing will also be given on Universal Service Fund (USF) projects for internet and telecommunications facilities in Qila Abdullah, Balochistan, covering locations, approved allocations, current status, and expected completion dates, along with the number of villages and public sector institutions expected to benefit.
The telecom competition regime will come under scrutiny as well, with the committee set to be briefed on whether the Telecom Competition Rules have been notified as required under Section 57 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996. The committee will also consider the report of its sub-committee constituted to investigate and rectify issues relating to internet connectivity and the reported disappearance of diesel meant for telecom towers in different parts of the country, alongside connectivity problems affecting 40 Pakistan Railways trains, including a lack of signals and Wi-Fi network facilities. Rounding out the session, the committee will consider a request from Pak Datacom employees concerning the termination of their employment, adding a labour dimension to an agenda that already spans corporate governance, national security, consumer protection, and rural connectivity issues across Pakistan’s telecom sector.
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