It was thoroughly covered with the Senate Standing Committee on the IT Secretary IT and Telecom, who announced that the new liberalization policy and the coming of 5G services would be the main vectors for such improvement.
It also called upon the PTA to recommend lowered mobile phone taxes to make such tariffs more affordable to people during the same discussion. However, the PTA lacks the authority to reduce taxes on mobile phones; that authority is vested with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
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Key Highlights:
IT Exports: An official from the Ministry of IT reports that in the first eleven months of 2024, IT exports grew by 37% to reach $3.3 billion, compared with $2.4 billion in the same 11 months of 2023. Despite the effects of COVID-19, the recovery has been strong, although the compound growth rate for the past five years is just 23%.
Improvements to Infrastructure: Announced as the addition of four submarine cables for the improvement of internet connectivity, three of which will go into operation within a year.
Regional Connectivity Problems: Senators have raised questions concerning the persistent issues regarding connectivity in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas such as those regarding daily impediments and permit clearances of mobile tower installations. Also among the complaints were the slow internet connection speeds in Sindh, especially in Larkana, although the region has received huge investments.
Universal Service Fund (USF): The Secretary mentioned ongoing projects in Ex-FATA involving an investment of ₨3 billion to enhance connectivity in these merged districts.
Chairman PTA Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman recognized fiber breaks in Balochistan; however, IT Ministry reiterated its commitment to ameliorating connectivity across the country.