The Secretary for Information Technology has admitted that the fault in Pakistan’s undersea internet cable has not yet been fully resolved.
Briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, the IT Secretary said that repair work on the damaged cable is still underway by the international consortium responsible for maintenance. He added that Pakistan’s internet traffic has been temporarily shifted to alternative routes to ensure continued connectivity.
Later in the meeting, the committee expressed concern over poor mobile network signals across the country and decided to summon officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in the next session.
The committee also received a detailed briefing on the Islamabad IT Park project. The project director informed members that 80 percent of the work has been completed so far.
Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that the project is being carried out in collaboration with a Korean company. However, due to delays, the Prime Minister has ordered an inquiry into the matter.
She further explained that the country’s telecom sector is facing challenges due to spectrum shortages and legal disputes. Pakistan currently operates on 274 MHz of spectrum, which she described as insufficient. The government, she added, is planning to hold a spectrum auction by December or January to address these issues.
