ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom was informed Thursday that the long-awaited merger between Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) and Telenor Pakistan is in its final stages and expected to be completed within two weeks.
Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu told the committee that the review process, ongoing for 18 months due to the merger’s complexity, had been slowed by delays in PTCL’s responses.
Governance and Transparency Concerns
Committee Chairperson Senator Palwasha Khan raised concerns about transparency in board appointments at PTCL and its subsidiary Ufone. While PTCL’s board details are public, she noted Ufone’s board composition was missing from its website and not shared in earlier sessions.
Senator Kamran Murtaza questioned reports of $5,000 allowances and foreign trips for board members, urging disclosure of such perks. “This is public information and should be disclosed,” Senator Khan stressed.
Data Leaks and Cybersecurity Risks
The committee also reviewed Pakistan’s ongoing data protection challenges. Senator Afnan Ullah revealed that stolen citizen data worth over Rs65 billion is being sold on the dark web, including records of nearly 300,000 Hajj applicants. He warned that Pakistan faces external pressure not to legislate on data protection, leaving citizens vulnerable.
PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman confirmed that SIM data, including his own, has circulated on the dark web since 2022. He also acknowledged persistent call drops and poor telecom coverage in Balochistan.
Connectivity and 5G Rollout
Senator Nadeem Bhutto highlighted weak signals along the Karachi–Sukkur Motorway. PTA officials said they are prepared to hold a 5G auction in December, with consultant reports completed. However, pending court cases could cause delays. The committee urged the IT Ministry to coordinate with the Attorney General’s office to resolve legal hurdles promptly.
Lawmakers also criticized IT Minister Shaza Fatima for her repeated absence from proceedings, raising concerns about the ministry’s seriousness in addressing sectoral issues.
