Islamabad: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the unsatisfactory state of internet services in the country, observing that poor connectivity is affecting not only remote areas but also major cities, including Karachi.
The committee, chaired by Syed Amin Ul Haque, noted that users frequently experience slow internet speeds and repeated call connection failures despite multiple attempts.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed the committee that the country’s total available spectrum previously stood at 274 MHz but increased to 754 MHz following the 5G spectrum auction, significantly enhancing network capacity.
The committee was informed that the increase in spectrum is expected to provide considerable relief to consumers and that internet services across the country would gradually improve in the coming months.
PTA Chairman Maj. Gen ® Hafeez Ur Rehnan further informed the committee that, under the first phase of the 5G rollout, telecom operators have launched 5G services in 22 cities.
He said no new infrastructure has yet been deployed, adding that 5G services have so far been enabled using the existing mobile towers and network infrastructure.
He added that new 5G infrastructure would be deployed gradually in subsequent phases, which would further improve the quality and speed of internet services across the country over the next six to eight months.
The committee observed that one of the major challenges affecting the quality of mobile and broadband services is the shortage of electricity for telecommunications infrastructure.
It noted that prolonged power outages adversely affect the performance of mobile towers, resulting in poor internet connectivity and disruptions to mobile services.
In response, the PTA chairman informed the committee that in some areas, load shedding of up to 10 hours a day significantly affects telecom services.
He said the matter had been taken up with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and the relevant power distribution companies (DISCOs), which have been engaged to address the issue.
He further said the Prime Minister has constituted a high-level committee to devise a sustainable solution for ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to telecom towers so that reliable telecommunication services can be provided to the public.
The committee proposed the use of alternative energy sources, particularly wind energy, to power telecom infrastructure, noting that Pakistan possesses a significant wind corridor with considerable potential.
It also recommended that the ministry direct telecom operators to gradually install renewable energy systems, including wind and solar power, at telecom sites.
Such measures, it observed, would reduce dependence on diesel, help prevent fuel theft, encourage private-sector investment and promote a more sustainable and resilient telecommunications infrastructure.
The committee also sought a briefing on taxes imposed on imported mobile phones.
During the briefing, the PTA chairman informed the committee that around 92 percent of smartphones currently in use in Pakistan are manufactured or assembled locally, while only 8 percent are imported, primarily Apple iPhones and Google Pixel devices.
He said most other smartphone brands are assembled in Pakistan and are therefore not subject to import duties, while taxes are applicable only to imported devices.
The committee directed the ministry to encourage Apple and other leading global smartphone manufacturers to establish manufacturing or assembly facilities in Pakistan.
It observed that such initiatives would make smartphones more affordable, promote domestic investment, create employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth.
The PTA chairman clarified that taxes on imported mobile phones are not collected by the PTA.
Instead, he said, the taxes are deposited with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Once the applicable taxes are paid, the PTA registers and whitelists the device through its Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), enabling its lawful use in Pakistan.
The committee also took up the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, for consideration.
During the deliberations, members belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) expressed reservations, saying the proposed amendments had not yet been discussed by the party’s Parliamentary Legislative Committee.
The committee observed that it has consistently upheld democratic norms by ensuring legislation is enacted through broad-based consultation, consensus-building and the inclusion of all political stakeholders.
However, it noted that no meaningful consultative process had so far been undertaken with the relevant political parties and stakeholders regarding the bill.
Accordingly, the committee decided to defer the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, until its next meeting and directed that consultations with all relevant political parties and stakeholders be completed before the bill is resubmitted for further consideration and recommendations.
