The Ministry of Information Technology (IT) has informed the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication that a draft bill for a personal data protection law has been completed. The move comes as concerns grow over data theft, security breaches, and the misuse of sensitive information.
The committee meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, discussed issues related to telecom services, data safety, and the upcoming 5G auction. The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assured members that no telecom data had surfaced on the dark web in the last two years. However, he stressed the urgent need for a national framework to strengthen data security.
He added that while telecom data had not been exposed recently, other sensitive information had been discovered online. To address this, PTA conducted an inquiry in 2022, and the Ministry of the Interior later launched a wider investigation to trace the sources.
Senator Afnan Ullah Khan noted that stolen data is often gathered from different institutions, combined, and then sold illegally. He cautioned that delays in implementing a strong protection law could leave the country vulnerable to cyber threats.
The committee chairperson also shared her experience of receiving a fraudulent banking call, which highlighted how fraudsters gain access to private data. Members expressed concern over the slow progress of personal data legislation despite repeated demands.
The meeting also reviewed other issues, including the recovery of Rs6 billion in tariffs from a telecom company, which was referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for further action. Service quality concerns were raised as well, with Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto pointing out frequent call drops and poor coverage along the Karachi-Sukkur Motorway.
In addition, the committee discussed the pending merger of Ufone and Telenor. Officials from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) said the deal was nearly finalized and expected to conclude within two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of IT confirmed that the 5G auction would be held in December. The PTA Chairman added that preparations were complete, though a few issues still required resolution.
Lawmakers agreed that the early passage of the protection law was essential to safeguard citizens’ data and strengthen trust in digital services.
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