The Ministry of Information Technology (IT) informed the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication that a draft personal data protection bill has been prepared, as concerns mount over rising data security threats.
During the meeting chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, the PTA Chairman assured lawmakers that no telecom data had surfaced on the dark web in the past two years, though other sensitive information continues to appear. He called for a national framework to safeguard personal and institutional data.
The Chairman recalled that PTA conducted an internal inquiry in 2022, followed by a probe launched by the Ministry of Interior. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan observed that stolen data is often aggregated from multiple institutions and later sold.
The committee chairperson also shared her own experience of receiving a fraudulent bank call, highlighting how fraudsters gain access to sensitive information. Members expressed frustration over delays in tabling the data protection bill. The Ministry of IT said stakeholder consultations were ongoing, but Senator Afnan Ullah warned that further delays could leave Pakistan vulnerable to serious security risks.
Other Key Issues Discussed
- Telecom tariffs: The committee discussed the recovery of over Rs6 billion in tariffs from consumers by a telecom operator. The issue has been referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for review, with PTA confirming that documents have already been submitted.
- Service quality: Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto raised concerns about the deteriorating mobile network quality, citing frequent call drops and poor 2G coverage along the Karachi-Sukkur Motorway.
- Ufone-Telenor merger: The long-delayed merger was said to be in its final stages, with the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) expecting completion within two weeks. However, Senator Kamran Murtaza questioned the feasibility given repeated delays.
- 5G auction: The Ministry of IT assured that the 5G spectrum auction will be held in December, with the PTA Chairman confirming readiness, though some outstanding issues remain unresolved.
