Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology Calls Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Law Over Internet Shutdowns
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has summoned the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Law in its next meeting regarding the ongoing internet shutdowns in the country. Chairperson of the Committee, Senator Palwasha Khan, stated that those who shut down the internet claim they will remain unaffected, while the rest of the country suffers. Committee members argued that internet shutdowns are due to political reasons rather than security concerns, and this is damaging the country, yet no one seems concerned.
Chairman of PTA, General (retd) Hafeez ur Rehman, explained that the law under which the internet is being shut down has been in place since 2016. If this law is wrong, why has the government been ordering internet shutdowns for the past 9 years, with various governments in power during this time? The Federal Secretary for IT emphasized that Pakistan’s IT industry is facing damage not due to the internet shutdowns themselves but because of the negative perception caused by these shutdowns on the global stage.
The Committee also raised concerns about a letter sent by the Prime Minister regarding a Private Member’s Bill, questioning whether this violates the privileges of Parliament members. The Committee asked on what authority the Prime Minister wrote this letter and whether it infringes upon their rights.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, took place in the Parliament Lodges and included the participation of Senators Kamran Murtaza, Ghuldeep Singh, Saifullah Sarwar Niazi, Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, and Humayun Mehmood. Officials from the Ministry of IT and PTA briefed the committee on the internet disruptions.
Chairman of PTA, General (retd) Hafeez ur Rehman, mentioned that PTA receives 500 complaints daily regarding social media content. PTA requests social media platforms to block the content, and platforms block 80% of the content. However, 20% of the content remains accessible. Senator Kamran Murtaza questioned the legality of blocking the internet in specific areas, stating that the law does not mention the power to block internet access in certain locations. The Ministry’s legal member clarified that the law does not specify particular areas, but the rules allow the Ministry of Interior to instruct PTA to block content. A tense exchange occurred between Senator Kamran Murtaza and Chairman PTA on this issue.
The committee was informed that since 2016, the internet shutdowns occur whenever a directive is issued by the Ministry of Interior. Chairman PTA noted that internet and social media applications have been blocked multiple times following Supreme Court orders. Furthermore, the discussion covered the issue of VPN services, with PTA stating that VPN providers are now required to register for licenses, and the registration process began in December 2024.
The committee also discussed the global perception of Pakistan’s IT industry, which is affected by the ongoing internet shutdowns. The Federal Secretary for IT pointed out that Pakistan’s internet speed is ranked 97th globally, and improvements are expected with the upcoming submarine cables and 5G services.
Senator Kamran Murtaza and other committee members expressed concerns about internet accessibility, particularly in provinces like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where internet services are often disrupted. Senator Nadeem Bhutto highlighted the slow internet speeds in Sindh, including in the city of Larkana.
The committee also discussed the national connectivity issues, with PTA Chairman noting that despite investments in fiber optics, digital highways need to be further developed for better internet infrastructure. The Ministry of IT also addressed issues related to the Right of Way (RoW) disputes that have hindered progress.
In closing, the committee emphasized that the internet shutdowns, especially in certain provinces, are having detrimental effects on the country’s economy and IT industry. Senator Palwasha Khan remarked that the current situation does not bode well for the country’s digital future, especially with the ambitious targets for IT exports set for 2029-30.