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The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology met today in Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, with lawmakers raising concerns over weak and unreliable internet services across the country.
During the meeting, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority told the committee that district-level internet licenses have been introduced to improve connectivity in far-flung and underserved areas. Each license is being offered at Rs. 300,000, a move the regulator says will encourage local operators to enter the market and expand broadband access beyond major cities.
Senator Saadia Abbasi stressed that internet services must remain affordable, especially for small communities that depend on digital access for education, business, and communication. She warned that high costs or limited coverage could widen the digital gap between urban and rural regions.
The committee chair took a strong note of ongoing coverage problems and directed the PTA to submit a detailed report on cellular signal availability in major cities and in at least one province. The report is expected to highlight trouble spots, including poor coverage along key stretches of the Peshawar Motorway, which lawmakers said has become a growing concern for travelers and businesses alike.
