The Africa-2 Cable Project, the world’s largest submarine cable, has arrived in Pakistan, according to Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima, who shared the update during a National Assembly session on Monday. The announcement came as lawmakers voiced concerns about ongoing internet issues in the country.
Senator Mohammad Aslam Abro criticized the government for failing to resolve technical internet problems, despite global advancements. He proposed referring the matter of frequent internet disruptions to a parliamentary committee. In response, Shaza Fatima highlighted that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had doubled its frequency capacity over the past two years, with IT exports increasing by 33 percent in the last five months and the number of internet users growing by 25 percent.
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Fatima emphasized that Pakistan is supported by eight submarine cables, one of which has exceeded its operational lifespan. She expressed confidence that the Africa-2 Cable, a 45,000-kilometer undersea network spanning 33 countries, would alleviate connectivity issues and significantly enhance the nation’s internet infrastructure. She also pointed out that most of the disruptions were linked to mobile broadband services.
Senator Anusha Rehman raised concerns about spectrum management, noting that there had been insufficient consultation on spectrum allocations and their role in attracting investment. In her reply, Shaza Fatima acknowledged the slow progress in mobile sector development over the past two to three years, adding that the PTA had hired US-based consultants to draft new policies. She also pointed out that some countries now offer spectrum at little or no cost to foster growth.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada expressed doubts about Pakistan’s ability to reach its $10 billion IT export target, attributing political instability as a major obstacle. Fatima countered by questioning the foundation of earlier projections and criticized the misuse of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) for real estate purposes. The session concluded with calls for robust reforms and greater transparency to resolve internet issues and boost the IT sector.
