Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja addressed the National Assembly on Wednesday, acknowledging the challenges with internet speed but emphasizing that the government was working to minimize inconveniences for users.
Khawaja stated that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is an autonomous body and clarified the closure of the X platform (formerly Twitter), attributing it to the use of inappropriate language. “X is used by just 2% of people in Pakistan,” she noted. The minister emphasized that the government’s actions were not about restricting freedom of speech but were in the interest of national security, particularly concerning cyber-attacks and data leaks.
Also Read: IT Minister Acknowledges Slow Internet Speeds, Vows Improvement
Khawaja also shared improvements in internet services, reporting a 28% increase in overall internet speed and a 24% boost in mobile internet. This improvement, she said, led to a 34% rise in IT exports over the last five months. She added that internet frequency had increased from 274MHz to 550MHz, with 4G and 5G spectrum set for auction in April.
Regarding internet shutdowns, she mentioned that, unlike previous years, the internet was only shut down in limited areas during Ashura this year due to improved technology. Khawaja also hinted at introducing policies to offer smartphones in easy instalments.
In other news, the National Forensic Agency Bill 2024 was approved by the National Assembly, with the Pakistan Peoples Party’s objections being addressed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The bill aims to establish a forensic science laboratory in the federal capital.
