The Senate IT Standing Committee has called an important meeting on December 9 to review the recent increase in mobile data and call package rates. The committee has asked the Ministry of Information Technology to provide a full briefing on the price hikes and the steps taken to protect consumers from unfair charges.
According to the meeting notice, the Minister for IT and Telecom will update lawmakers on the decisions made by mobile operators and the regulatory response to public complaints. The agenda also includes a discussion on Senator Atta ur Rehman’s concern regarding the suspension of mobile services in District Lakki Marwat.
The Senate IT committee has also summoned officials from the Interior Ministry and the Islamabad administration. They will explain how data collected through the ICT Household Survey app is stored, who can access it, and what security rules are in place to protect users.
Another briefing will focus on Islamabad’s vehicle monitoring system. Officials will share details about real-time data protection for E-tag users, along with the system’s operational safeguards.
Lawmakers will also review media reports alleging that officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency received Rs. 1.5 crore per month from illegal call centers. The Director General of the agency will brief the committee on internal checks and the steps taken after the allegations.
The committee will further seek information on PTCL’s most recent audit. It has also requested the names, designations, meeting schedules, and remuneration of Ufone’s Board of Directors for the last two years. The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will explain the licensing rules for Virtual Private Networks and outline the future process for companies applying for VPN permissions.
The CEO of the Universal Service Fund will present a compliance report on mobile network issues raised by parliamentarians. The report will cover areas such as the Sukkur–Karachi M-9, the N-5 highway, several districts in Balochistan, Umerkot, Abbottabad, and Kashmore.
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Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan will chair the session at the Old PIPS Hall in Islamabad. Members have been urged to ensure full attendance.
