ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology was informed on Tuesday that, following the Prime Minister’s directives, the long-awaited spectrum auction will be completed by December 2025, based on recommendations from an engaged consultant.
The Auction Supervisory Committee (ASC), chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, is scheduled to meet on Monday. The consultant will present its report, after which the auction may be formally approved, with a deadline to complete this major exercise before the end of the ongoing calendar year.
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, met at the Parliament House to deliberate on key issues affecting Pakistan’s telecom and digital sectors.
The Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) briefed the committee on preparations for spectrum auctions, stating that since 2021, essential frequency bands have been aligned with global 5G standards. This includes the clearance of 30 MHz and the identification of additional millimeter-wave bands in the 3 GHz and 24 GHz ranges. Members, however, expressed concern that litigation and stay orders on certain bands were stalling progress, causing heavy economic losses and slowing the digital ecosystem.
The Special Secretary, Ministry of IT, assured the committee that the auction would be completed by the revised deadline in line with the Prime Minister’s instructions.
The committee also heard briefings from the Attorney General’s Office, PEMRA, and PTA on LDI/FLL stay orders. It was informed that cases first taken up by the Sindh High Court have now been shifted to civil courts, with the next hearing scheduled for September 17. Members stressed that prolonged legal delays would negatively affect both economic and technological development.
Updates were also provided by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), PTA, and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) regarding registered call centers, software houses, revenues, monitoring mechanisms, and efforts to curb cyber fraud. The committee was told that cybercrime remains a major threat to digital trust and financial inclusion, with scams running into billions of rupees. So far, 63 illegal call centers have been dismantled, and Rs40 million has been recovered.
Members voiced alarm over loan scams, gambling apps, fake news, and misinformation campaigns on social media. They were informed that coordination with banks had been improved to identify skimming devices, while monitoring of online activities was intensified during sensitive national events. The committee urged stronger inter-agency collaboration, the use of artificial intelligence for early detection of cyber threats, and stricter accountability for social media platforms. The NCCIA was directed to submit a detailed report on cyber-linked crimes at the next session.
The committee was also briefed by PTA and the Auditor General of Pakistan on audit findings against Jazz. The audit alleged that the company overcharged users by Rs6.58 billion while raising tariffs by up to 15 percent every quarter. Members criticized weak regulatory oversight that allowed unilateral price hikes without PTA’s explicit approval.
The Auditor General’s office noted that relevant approval records had not been shared despite repeated requests. PTA officials, however, insisted that all due processes were followed and documentation was available. The committee instructed both PTA and the Auditor General’s office to submit complete records, with the review to continue in the next meeting.
On the issue of spectrum under illegal use by China Mobile, PTA representatives said litigation over 6.6 MHz in the 1800 MHz band remains unresolved. Although the Supreme Court ruled in PTA’s favor, the matter has since been shifted to lower courts, where delays continue. Members expressed concern over such tactics, stressing that they inflict significant financial losses and damage the national interest. The committee decided to summon officials from the Law Division to explain the judicial delays and propose a way forward.
Finally, the committee expressed displeasure at a cell company’s failure to provide details of its Board of Directors, including names, designations, remuneration, and payment modes.
Members described the delay as a deliberate withholding of information, warning that a privilege motion could be moved if the data is not submitted. The Special Secretary assured the committee that the required details would be provided.
