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Aftab Maken
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, convened on Monday and received a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan’s planned 5G spectrum auction, PTCL’s pending audit, telecom mergers, and the growing threat of cyber and financial fraud.
During the session, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed senators that 600 MHz of bandwidth had been earmarked for the 5G auction, with recommendations submitted to the Auction Advisory Committee following a detailed market analysis. However, PTA officials said pending court cases, including the long-running Sun TV spectrum dispute, needed resolution before moving forward.
Senator Humayun Mohmand urged the Ministry of IT to expedite legal proceedings to avoid further delays. Former IT minister Anusha Rahman called for representatives of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) to be included in the auction committee to ensure transparency.
The discussion soon turned to the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). Lawmakers expressed anger over the company’s refusal to undergo an audit despite Supreme Court directives. Audit authorities told the panel that PTCL had declined, citing its majority shareholder, Etisalat, as a private entity. Senator Nadeem Bhutto reminded the committee that “the Supreme Court’s orders are clear—PTCL must be audited.” Senator Afnanullah added that PTCL still owed $800 million to the government, accusing the company’s management of deliberately stalling settlement.
Committee members also voiced concern over delays in the Ufone–Telenor merger, with PTA officials confirming that no final decision had been made. Anusha Rahman questioned whether Telenor had been engaged to reconsider its planned exit from Pakistan, warning that its departure would severely impact service quality. PTA officials acknowledged that Telenor had raised three to four major issues, similar to challenges faced by other operators, and said the company would be taken into confidence over the 5G package.
The panel further demanded that the Ministry of IT submit a complete list of PTCL’s board of directors, their designations, and remuneration packages. “Why is the ministry hiding board members’ names? Are they paid in rupees or dollars?” the chair asked, calling the PTCL board a “white elephant.”
The meeting also highlighted broader governance challenges in the telecom and tech sector. The Frequency Allocation Board reported that the Attorney General’s office had been directed to pursue pending spectrum cases, while telecom tribunals remained inactive due to a lack of appointments from the Ministry of Law.
Meanwhile, Senator Afnanullah raised concerns about Elon Musk, accusing him of running discriminatory campaigns against Pakistanis on social media, and questioned whether his company, Starlink, should be licensed in Pakistan. PTA officials confirmed Starlink had applied for a Long-Distance International (LDI) licence but said clearance from the Space Regulatory Authority was pending. The committee decided to summon officials from the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board in its next session.
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) briefed senators on the rising wave of digital fraud. Officials revealed that illegal call centres and fake software houses were defrauding citizens through phishing calls and WhatsApp hacks, with losses estimated at Rs 720 million. More than 60% of cybercrime complaints involved financial fraud, they added.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) also warned of predatory online loan apps that had previously charged interest rates as high as 1,800%, exploiting users by accessing their phone contacts and galleries. Officials said new regulations now cap interest rates at 100%, require three guarantors for loans, and ban apps from accessing personal data. Action had been taken against 90% of fraudulent apps, they reported.
The committee also pressed PTA over Jazz’s recovery of Rs6 billion in tariffs without documented approval. Audit authorities said PTA had not shared the required records, prompting Anusha Rahman to accuse the regulator of negligence, damaging to the private sector’s credibility. The committee ordered PTA to provide full tariff approval records at the next meeting.
With unresolved disputes, stalled mergers, and mounting consumer risks, senators said strict oversight of both the public and private telecom sector was critical to ensure transparency, compliance, and investor confidence as Pakistan prepares to launch 5G.
