Islamabad: Today, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, met at Parliament Lodges to address pressing issues concerning the renewal of LDI/FLL licenses. The licenses in question, vital to the operations of key telecommunication companies including Wateen, are at risk of expiring without renewal, potentially leading to significant network disruptions.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) briefed the committee on the challenges faced by four companies, highlighting Wateen’s extensive fiber optic network across 24 cities and its connections to 44 banks and NADRA. Despite forming a committee to resolve these issues, the license renewal remains unsettled, with Wateen having secured a stay order from the court as its license is set to expire in July 2024. Concerns were raised about the adverse impacts on the network and service provision if the licenses are not renewed promptly.

The discussion also ventured into the broader implications of such operational suspensions. PTA officials warned that PTCL would not be able to compensate for the gap if these companies ceased operations. The urgency of resolving the matter was further underscored by the Secretary of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), who advocated for the vacation of stay orders and a clear policy directive from the Federal Government to prevent future complications.

Moreover, the committee scrutinized the actions of the former Secretary of MoITT regarding unauthorized policy directives issued without Cabinet approval. The Chairperson called for accountability and requested a detailed list of individuals responsible for overseeing these directives.

The session also covered the governance of PTCL’s Board, the criteria for hiring consultants, and the contract-based appointment of the MoITT Secretary from the private sector, emphasizing transparency and adherence to government-set remuneration caps.

The meeting, attended by notable senators and senior officials, set the stage for rigorous oversight and legal scrutiny to ensure the telecommunication sector’s stability and integrity are maintained.