Islamabad, March 11, 2026: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Wednesday reviewed telecom development projects, cybersecurity measures, and data protection mechanisms during a meeting held at Parliament House and chaired by Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan.
The meeting was attended by senators Sadia Abbasi, Kamran Murtaza, Nadeem Ahmad Bhutto and Afnan Ullah Khan, while Pervaiz Rashid participated online. Talha Mahmood attended as a special invitee and Shahadat Awan joined the meeting as the mover of a question.
Officials of the Universal Service Fund (USF) briefed the committee on a question raised by Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan regarding projects aimed at providing internet and telecommunication facilities in District Qila Abdullah. The briefing included details on project locations, allocated budgets, implementation status, completion timelines and the number of villages and public institutions expected to benefit.
The committee was informed that under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, the Universal Service Fund has been mandated to extend telecommunication services to unserved and underserved rural and remote areas. Officials said multiple projects are currently underway across the country to expand telecommunication infrastructure and improve broadband connectivity.
In District Qila Abdullah, 22 previously unserved mauzas with a combined population of 39,736 have been provided voice (2G) and data (3G) services through the installation of nine telecom towers, including one repeater. The chairperson proposed forming a subcommittee to further examine the matter.
The committee also reviewed the proposed Telecom Competition Rules under Section 57 of the same law. Officials informed members that the Draft Telecommunication Competition Rules, 2026 have been prepared to promote fair competition in the telecom sector by identifying relevant markets, monitoring market power and regulating anti-competitive practices. The draft has been shared with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority for review before finalization.
Representatives of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication also briefed the committee on recent cyberattack incidents in Pakistan and measures being taken to strengthen the security of digital platforms.
Officials from the Ministry of Interior, the Islamabad Safe City Authority and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad also briefed the committee on security mechanisms following the recent killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, as well as steps being taken to protect real-time data systems.
The committee further discussed safeguards related to data protection in the ICT Household Survey mobile application. Representatives of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), the interior ministry and the Islamabad administration explained existing data security protocols.
Members expressed concerns over data storage and custodianship in the absence of a comprehensive data protection law and sought clarification regarding repository authority and access protocols for different organizations.
Officials including the Director General of the National Cyber Emergency Response Team, NADRA representatives, the PTA chairman and the Federal Board of Revenue informed the committee about coordinated efforts to protect critical data systems against cyber threats. These include restricting access to sensitive systems from outside Pakistan, blocking illegitimate domestic traffic and strengthening real-time monitoring and response mechanisms.
The committee stressed the need for stronger cybersecurity protocols and improved coordination among institutions to ensure the protection of national digital infrastructure and data systems.
