Islamabad, May 13, 2022 (PPI-OT):Meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Communication was held in Parliament House on Thursday with Senator Kauda Babar in Chair. The Committee discussed the “National Information Technology Board Bill, 2022” and it was conveyed that Bill has been lapsed owing to expiration of 90 days limit for consideration of the proposed Bill.

However, the Committee expressed serious concerns over recent cyber-attack on Information Technology and Telecommunication website. Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shahzad Waseem asked the ministry about the reasons behind these kinds of attacks and preventive steps taken in this regard.

Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin ul Haque explained that internal committee of the ministry is probing into matter and once it is complete, Senate Committee will be briefed about it.

Moreover, the Committee also discussed the public petition submitted to the Honourable Chairman by Mr. Asif H. Baig Mohammed of Al Safeena Security Service (Pvt) Ltd. regarding non-payment of outstanding claims by Ufone.

Officials of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority informed the Committee that, this is a commercial agreement between two private companies and PTA cannot do anything about it. Senator Sania Nishtar was of view that, if there is any dispute between private companies than who is to arbitrate and resolve the issue.

While deliberating on the programmes executed by Ufone and Telenor under the head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shahzad Waseem walked out of the meeting due to absence of CEOs of private telecommunication companies in the meeting.

However, the Chairman Committee Senator Kauda Babar asked the representatives of private companies to convey their issues and recommendations to the Committee in writing, so that the appropriate measures can be taken in due course of time.

The meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shahzad Waseem, Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Sana Jamali, Senator Sania Nishtar, Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan, Senator Shahadat Awan, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin ul Haque and other senior officers of ministry and Pakistan Telecommunication as well.

For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9204564534
Fax: +92-51-9205703
E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk
Website: www.senate.gov.pk