ISLAMABAD – The Secretary for Information Technology has admitted that the fault in Pakistan’s submarine internet cable has not yet been completely fixed.
During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, the secretary said that the consortium responsible for the cable is still working to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s internet traffic has been shifted to alternative routes to maintain connectivity.
The committee also expressed concern over poor mobile signal coverage across the country and decided to summon Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) officials in the next session for an explanation.
Members were briefed on the Islamabad IT Park project, where the Project Director reported that about 80 percent of the work has been completed.
Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja informed the committee that the project is being carried out in cooperation with a South Korean company. However, she said the Prime Minister has ordered an inquiry into the delay in its completion.
Shaza Fatima added that network problems persist due to spectrum shortage and legal disputes. She noted that the country currently operates on 274 MHz of spectrum, which is insufficient, and the government plans to conduct a spectrum auction by December or January to address the issue.
