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The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on IT and Telecom expressed “no confidence” in the country’s internet and telecom services today. During a heated meeting chaired by Amin-ul-Haque, committee members slammed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for the widening gap between official reports and ground reality.
While official documents suggest stability, the committee observed that services are actually deteriorating every day.
The central conflict of the meeting arose when the PTA submitted its Quality of Service (QoS) report. The regulator claimed a 99% satisfaction rate regarding mobile signals.
The committee unanimously rejected this figure. Members argued that the country is facing typical internet slowdowns and weak mobile signals, making the 99% claim “incomprehensible”.
Committee member Sadiq Memon expressed deep reservations regarding the data. He labelled the report “ridiculous” and criticised the obvious disconnect. Memon highlighted the lack of seriousness regarding the issue. He remarked:
If we discuss mobile phone signals in the committee, the Minister gets annoyed.
NA Committee Demands for Third-Party Audits
Questions were also raised about how the PTA gathers its data. Committee member Sharmila Faruqui grilled the regulator on its survey methodology. She asked specifically where these surveys are conducted to achieve such high satisfaction numbers. Faruqui stated:
The 99% satisfactory rating in the PTA’s report is beyond comprehension.
She subsequently demanded that future QoS surveys be conducted by an independent third party, rather than the PTA itself, to ensure transparency.
The frustration was not limited to statistics. Member Pullain Baloch voiced the concerns of the common citizen, asking a simple question:
If the PTA cannot provide basic mobile signals, where are people supposed to go for help?
The meeting concluded with a clear message that the NA committee is displeased. While the regulator insists everything is fine on paper, the ongoing signal drops and slow internet speeds tell a very different story.
