A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications has scheduled a meeting for June 1, 2026, to formally investigate persistent internet disruptions and reports of diesel shortages affecting telecom towers across different parts of the country. The committee will deliberate on complaints raised by senators regarding deteriorating internet services and the alleged disappearance or shortage of diesel used for powering telecom towers in various regions, with the agenda formally stating that the sub-committee will investigate, inquire and rectify the issues of the internet and the disappearance of diesel for the telecom towers raised by honourable senators in different areas of the country.
The two issues, while distinct, are deeply interconnected. The issue of unreliable internet connectivity has triggered growing concern among lawmakers, businesses and citizens, particularly in remote and underserved areas where telecom infrastructure heavily depends on backup power systems, while the issue of diesel shortages for telecom towers has also emerged as a serious concern, particularly in remote and load-shedding-prone areas where cellular towers rely heavily on backup generators to maintain uninterrupted services. When commercial power supply fails during prolonged outages, as it routinely does across large parts of Pakistan, backup generators running on diesel become the only mechanism keeping telecom towers operational. A disruption in diesel supply therefore translates directly into network blackouts, compounding the connectivity challenges already being experienced by millions of users in these areas.
Parliamentary sources said the committee is expected to seek detailed briefings from officials of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, telecom operators, and other relevant stakeholders regarding the causes of service disruptions and operational challenges, with the sub-committee also likely to examine whether administrative lapses, supply chain issues, or mismanagement contributed to the alleged disappearance of diesel allocated for telecom tower operations. The reference to potential mismanagement in the framing of the inquiry adds a layer of accountability to what might otherwise be treated as a purely technical or logistical matter. The development comes amid growing complaints about slow internet services, frequent outages, and disruptions in connectivity that have affected businesses, educational activities, banking services, and digital communications, with the sub-committee expected to formulate recommendations aimed at improving internet reliability and ensuring uninterrupted telecom services across the country. The June 1 meeting will be watched closely by telecom operators and industry observers, particularly as Pakistan works toward its stated targets of expanding fourth-generation coverage, increasing fiberisation, and preparing for the eventual rollout of fifth-generation services in a network environment that remains vulnerable to fuel supply disruptions and power infrastructure gaps.
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