If someone proves that I am doing something wrong, I will stop coming to the office from tomorrow, says PTA Chairman

 Under the PECA Act, if the government directs, we close the internet or any platform, we can block or open social media but there is no middle ground; discussion in the standing committee meeting

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Islamabad (UrduPoint News International/ Pakistan Point News - 02 January 2025) Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman has said that we can block or open social media, but there is no middle ground. Under the PECA Act, if the government directs, we close the internet or any platform. If someone proves that I am doing something wrong, I will stop coming to the office from tomorrow.

According to the details, the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT was held under the chairmanship of Syed Amin-ul-Haq. Speaking in the meeting, Committee Chairman Syed Amin-ul-Haq said that ‘Discussions are ongoing between the parties on the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill. It is hoped that the discussions between the leadership of the parties will yield a better result. If the bill is passed by the committee, it will go to the parliament.’

On this occasion, committee member PTI leader Omar Ayub said, ‘Earlier, telephones were spied on, now surveillance of citizens is ongoing, internet service is shut down, intelligence agencies intervene and shut down internet service, losses due to service shutdown are in millions of dollars, in Pakistan we are getting internet at the lowest speed, it was claimed that internet speed would improve by October 31, the government’s intentions are bad in the matter of VPN registration, such tactics are being used by the government’, to which committee member Romina Khurshid said, ‘Things are monitored all over the world’.

The PTA Chairman replied in support, ‘I am in ablution and will speak on oath that I stand by the statement I made at that time. I had given a statement in August 2024 that 4 out of 7 submarine cables were working, 3 out of 7 submarine cables were cut. After 5 months, the submarine cables were restored in October. Internet service has improved compared to October. We are currently at 97 out of 200 in mobile service. We conduct surveys and keep reviewing the situation.’ He added, ‘The quality report is in front of you. If something goes wrong, I am responsible. I wrote letters to all social media companies. I also wrote letters to other companies and asked if there was a problem with the internet. If there was a problem with the service, why would I write letters to the companies? The government has not spent a single penny on telecom infrastructure. If digital highways are not built, the problem will not be solved.’ He added, ‘The quality report is in front of you. If there is a problem with the internet, then why should I write letters to the companies? The government has not spent a single penny on telecom infrastructure. If digital highways are not built, the problem will not be solved.’ The PTA chairman says, "We cannot slow down social media platforms. You have to build digital highways, then the internet will be fine. Not a single submarine cable has come in the last 10 years. It is not our job to bring submarine cables to Pakistan. It is the government's job to bring submarine cables and lay fiber cables. We shut down the internet only when we receive an order from the government or a court. If someone proves that I am doing something wrong, I will stop coming to the office from tomorrow."