Senate Body to Review AI, Crypto, and Telecom Issues in Key Meeting

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication will convene on May 7, Wednesday, in Islamabad. The meeting will address key issues including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency regulation, license renewals, and Pakistan’s digital initiatives.

The Senate Secretariat announced that the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication will discuss several crucial topics during its upcoming meeting. The session’s agenda includes the consideration of “The Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill, 2024,” introduced by Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, and briefings on the role of the Ministry of IT&T in cryptocurrency regulation, following the government’s new council announcement.

Additionally, the committee will seek updates from the Ministry of IT&T and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regarding the renewal of Long Distance and International (LDI) and Fixed Local Loop (FLL) licenses. Another major point of discussion will be the implications of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025, and the subsequent role expected from the Ministry.

Focus on Pakistan’s AI and Digital Policy Advancements

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology will also address the controversy surrounding the purported launch of Pakistan’s first GPT, “Zahanat AI,” by the Minister for IT&T, which was later publicly denied by the CEO of the National Information Technology Board (NITB).

Further briefings will include details on the recent Digital Diplomacy Initiative Forum (DDIF), such as international participation and the number of business leads generated for local software companies. The committee will also review a financial breakdown of IT companies registered with P@SHA and PSEB, highlighting their revenue declared in Pakistan last year.

The meeting will be chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, with several Senators, ministry officials, PTA representatives, and key IT industry stakeholders expected to attend. Preparations, including media coverage, legislative support, and necessary medical and administrative arrangements, have already been directed to ensure smooth proceedings.