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A heated session of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Information Technology took place today, revealing a sharp divide between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) self-assessment and the ground reality witnessed by lawmakers. While the PTA Chairman claimed the regulator is the country’s top-performing government department, committee members expressed severe dissatisfaction with ongoing service issues.
During the briefing, the Chairman of the PTA defended the authority’s track record over the past year. He asserted that the PTA has remained the “number one” government department in terms of performance.
Furthermore, he highlighted the authority’s efficiency in resolving public grievances. According to the Chairman, the PTA has consistently topped the list for complaint redressal. He also noted that the regulator currently operates twelve zonal offices across Pakistan to manage these operations.
NA Committee Calls Out “All is Well” Narrative
However, the NA Standing Committee members swiftly rejected these claims. Committee member Sadiq Ali Memon criticised the regulator for presenting a report that suggests “all is well” while service issues persist across the country. Addressing the disconnect between the official report and the actual user experience, Memon stated:
When you are not even ready to admit the issues, then everything is futile.
The Chairman of the Standing Committee reinforced this sentiment, declaring that all members of the committee are “absolutely unsatisfied” with the PTA’s current performance.
Directives for Focal Persons & Accountability
To bridge the communication gap, the committee issued strict directives. Member Ali Qasim Gillani emphasised that complaints lodged by assembly members must be addressed immediately.
Consequently, the Committee Chairman ordered the PTA to appoint a dedicated focal person specifically for Assembly members. Additionally, he directed the regulator to select focal persons within all 12 zonal offices to ensure better regional coordination.
In a move to resolve the deadlock, Committee Member Ahmed Atiq proposed forming a smaller sub-committee of three to four members. This group would sit directly with PTA officials to find a viable path forward.
Responding to the intense scrutiny, the PTA Chairman admitted that “some mistakes have happened” on their end, signalling a potential shift toward accountability.
