Senate committee demands action on slow internet, orders resolution in two weeks

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has taken strict notice of the ongoing slow internet speed across the country, directing relevant authorities to resolve the issue within two weeks. The committee also called for a detailed report on the financial losses incurred due to the internet slowdown.
Chaired by Senator Palusha Khan, the committee's meeting highlighted the widespread disruptions in internet and social media app services, which have had a significant impact on businesses. Senator Humayun Mohmand pointed out that the sluggish internet and social media apps have severely affected business operations, while Senator Afnanullah Khan estimated the financial loss at a staggering 500 million.
The Secretary of IT informed the committee that the disruption was due to a technical issue with mobile operators' services, assuring that the problem would be resolved shortly. However, the committee expressed serious concerns, demanding a thorough report on the damages caused and a prompt resolution.
Senator Afnanullah Khan voiced frustration over the inability to upload and download media on social media platforms like WhatsApp, which has led many e-commerce platforms to suffer. Senator Humayun Mohmand criticized the lack of investment in digital infrastructure, warning that it could devastate businesses and jobs.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) faced scrutiny as well, with officials claiming they had not received any formal complaints about the internet service disruption. The committee postponed the agenda related to the firewall discussion due to the unavailability of PTA officials, who were supposed to provide details in an in-camera briefing.
Secretary IT Ayesha Humira assured the committee that the problem is specific to mobile operators and not Wi-Fi networks. She mentioned that data is being collected from the operators, and a detailed report will be presented to the Standing Committee within two weeks. She also assured that the issue would be resolved soon, alleviating the internet woes affecting users nationwide.