The Senate IT Committee has called a key meeting on December 9 to review rising mobile data and call rates, data privacy, VPN rules, coverage issues and cyber crime controls.
Committee to Examine Tariff Hikes and Consumer Impact
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has summoned a key meeting on December 9 to review the sharp increase in mobile data and call package rates. Lawmakers say they want clear answers on why tariffs have risen so quickly and what is being done to protect consumers who depend on mobile services for work, learning and daily communication.
According to the meeting notice, the committee has asked the Ministry of IT and Telecom to give a full briefing on recent price hikes and the regulatory response so far. The Minister for IT and Telecom is expected to present detailed data on how operators revised their packages, what justifications were provided and which steps, if any, were taken to prevent unfair pricing.
Data Privacy, Service Suspensions and Monitoring Systems Under Scrutiny
The agenda goes beyond call and data rates. Senators will also take up concerns raised by Senator Atta ur Rehman regarding the suspension of mobile services in District Lakki Marwat. Members want to know under what conditions services were shut down, how long the suspension lasted and what criteria are used to make such decisions in the future.
Officials from the Interior Ministry and Islamabad administration have been called to explain how data collected through the ICT Household Survey app is stored and protected. The committee will ask who has access to this information, what security protocols are in place and how long the records are retained. A separate briefing is planned on Islamabad’s vehicle monitoring system, including real-time data protection measures for E-tag users and the safeguards applied to location data.
Illegal Call Centers and Cyber Crime Controls
Another sensitive topic on the agenda is a set of media reports alleging that officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency have been receiving bribes worth around Rs. 1.5 crore per month from illegal call centres. These centres are alleged to be involved in scams and unauthorised telecom activities.
The Director General NCCIA has been summoned to brief the committee on the internal controls in place, investigations conducted so far and any disciplinary measures taken. Lawmakers are expected to press for details on how such alleged bribery could go unnoticed and what reforms are needed to prevent abuse of authority in future.
Questions for PTCL, Ufone and PTA on Governance and VPN Rules
The committee will also seek detailed information on the governance of major telecom entities. Members have requested data on PTCL’s most recent audit as well as the names, designations, meeting frequency and remuneration of Ufone’s Board of Directors for the past two years. The aim is to understand how decisions are made at the top level and whether corporate oversight is strong enough.
In addition, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority chairman has been instructed to brief senators on licensing rules for Virtual Private Networks. The committee wants clarity on how companies can legally obtain VPN permissions, what process they must follow in future and how PTA plans to manage misuse without blocking legitimate business traffic and remote-work tools.
Coverage Gaps, Quality of Service and Next Steps
Network coverage and service quality will also come under review. The CEO of the Universal Service Fund has been asked to present a compliance report on mobile coverage issues previously raised by parliamentarians. Complaints have been reported along the Sukkur–Karachi M-9 Motorway, the N-5 highway, several districts in Balochistan, Umerkot, Abbottabad and Kashmore.
Lawmakers want to see what progress has been made on addressing these gaps, how funds have been used and what timelines exist for improving connectivity in underserved areas. With more citizens relying on mobile networks for financial services, education and government schemes, the committee says that both affordability and reliability must be treated as priority issues.
The session, to be chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan at the Old PIPS Hall in Islamabad, will bring together officials from multiple ministries and regulators. Members have been urged to ensure full attendance, signalling that the Senate intends to keep strong parliamentary oversight over Pakistan’s fast-changing telecom and digital landscape.
