Islamabad: The 5th meeting of the Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication convened today under the leadership of Syed Amin ul Haq, MNA, focusing on critical issues like the delayed 5G spectrum auction and long-standing property disputes involving PTCL and ETISALAT.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the committee expressed significant concerns over the slow progress in auctioning the 5G spectrum and directed the Ministry to hasten the consultant hiring process to ensure 5G services are operational by 2025. Members underscored the importance of involving all relevant stakeholders in the auction design, spectrum valuation, and development of effective 5G models to avoid further delays.

The ongoing dispute between PTCL and ETISALAT was also a key point of discussion. Despite 18 years since the issue first arose, no resolution has been reached. The Ministry relayed that a special committee, led by the Finance Minister, has been established by the Prime Minister to expedite a resolution, with progress reports expected soon. The committee also instructed PTCL to enhance its complaint management system, stressing the need for efficiency in handling customer grievances within a 6 to 12-hour window to improve user satisfaction and competitive edge.

Additionally, the committee voiced frustrations with the sluggish progress of the Islamabad IT Park project, which is significantly behind schedule with only 44% completion, risking the project’s intended completion by February 2025. The project, fully funded by the Korean government, has suffered delays due to lengthy approval processes involving the Korean head office. However, the Ministry has engaged the Korean Ambassador to prevent further holdups and assured the committee of timely completion. A third-party audit has been ordered to ensure transparency and adherence to project timelines.

Similar directives were issued regarding the Karachi IT Park, with the committee mandating a three-shift work schedule to meet the June 2026 completion target.

The meeting saw attendance from various MNAs and ministry officials, all committed to resolving these critical issues promptly to advance Pakistan’s IT and telecommunications sector.