Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
A legislative body of Upper House of parliament on Tuesday expressed displeasure over poor cellular services in Balochistan and the concerned companies directed to improve their services across the country, particularly in Balochistan.
The issue was raised in the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication was held on Tuesday in parliament house while Senator Kauda Babar was on chair. Regarding the issue of poor cellular services in Balochistan, Pakistan Member Telecommunication Authority explained that this was mainly due to security reasons and power interruption.
The Chairman showed his displeasure on absence of network in Balochistan and other areas of Pakistan. He remarked that the people of the Balochistan pay the taxes on every recharge and yet services are not available to them. If Cellular companies fail to solve the issue at the earliest, then the Committee will take action, the Chairman cautioned. He further directed all the cellular companies should ensure their presence in the next meeting and brief the Committee about the matter in detail. The Committee showed displeasure on absence of Chairman PTA and directed its presence in the next meeting.
The Committee discussed the ‘’National Information Technology Board Bill “at length and pointed out some legal ambiguities in it. The Chairman Committee was of the opinion that if Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin ul Haque himself assured the Committee about the ambiguities, the Committee will pass the Bill in the next meeting. The Chairman also showed displeasure on the absence of the Minister and directed to ensure its presence in the next meeting.
While discussing the Pass Track application, the Ministry apprised the committee that the application has developed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and NCOC for record keeping of the travellers coming to Pakistan in times of Covid-19 pandemic.
