CM’s aide sees attack on internet & mobile services

PESHAWAR: Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Finance and Inter-Provincial Coordination Muzammil Aslam on Sunday said there was the latest shark attack on internet communications and mobile services in the country which was alarming.

He issued a statement and said there was a communication disability in Pakistan — internet shutdown and the worsening situation of communication.

Muzammil Aslam said at first the government disallowed mobile companies to work freely and set up their tariffs. Now the majority of them left and only three big players survive.

He alleged that the auctions of new technology (3G, 4G, and now 5G) were purposely delayed, adding they have not made any policy for data providers.

The adviser said at first we disallowed mobile companies to work freely and set up their tariffs. Now the majority of them left and only three big players survive.

Of the role of the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), he said that of late, PTA had ensured further speed breakers to access via blocking X (formerly Twitter), YouTube applications and VPN.

He explained that freelancers and retail businesses were not only getting livelihood from the internet but also now IT services had become the main source of foreign exchange.

“In today’s world, the key to success is communication, data is new gold, and digital currency is a new wealth check. But unfortunately, Pakistan is reluctant to adopt the change. Our leadership is not sensitized to this issue thus far, Muzammil Aslam said.

He said at first we had abandoned the rail network and started building up motorways. “I’m not against motorways but ignoring railway networks is a sin,” added the adviser.

Muzammil Aslam said Pakistan Railways was destroyed to ensure all traffic (commercial, cargo, passenger) was diverted to the road. “This massively increased our oil import bill,” he pointed.

He lamented that inter-country railway cargo was discouraged, and no pipeline was laid for inter-country pipe transportation of oil & gas. “This destroyed our road network and increased the budget on maintenance & repair.” He pointed out.

Muzammil Aslam said the country was literally disconnected keeping in view the worst performance of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). He said there was only one flight a day from Peshawar to Karachi from

a private airline (Fly Jinnah) and occasionally from another airline.

“PIA has stopped flights from Peshawar. No flights from Peshawar to Lahore and other parts of the country. From Quetta, Sukkur, Multan, and Sialkot one has to wait days to get a flight,” he said. He criticized the then Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government and said the above-mentioned destinations were better connected globally than internally right before April 2022.

“As we all know, Pakistan’s international passenger market has been taken over by the Saudi, Gulf, Turkish and Thai airlines. So restrictions on freight & fare payments by the PDM government forced them to reduce flights and increase fares.

He said now Pakistanis paid exuberant money for international fares. “In fact, we are now paying more foreign exchange against less miles,” the advisor said.

Muzammil Aslam said the same was the story on the ocean and seafront. “Unlike PIA, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation is cash-rich but it has not invested in its fleet for over three decades. Pakistan pays over 500 million US dollars on ocean freight and shipping companies. “Similarly billions in airfares and to overseas companies. No focus on maritime and blue economy” he deplored.