Hajra Naz
The Africa-2 Cable Project, the world’s largest submarine cable, has arrived in Pakistan. Minister of State for IT, Shazia Fatima, shared this update in the National Assembly on Monday while addressing concerns raised by lawmakers regarding the country’s internet issues.
Senator Mohammad Aslam Abro criticized the government for not resolving ongoing technical internet problems despite global advancements. He proposed referring the matter of frequent internet disruptions to a parliamentary committee.
In response, Shaza Fatima explained that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had doubled its frequency capacity over the past two years. She also highlighted a 33% increase in IT exports in the last five months and a 25% rise in internet users.
Fatima further noted that Pakistan is supported by eight submarine cables, although one had reached the end of its operational life. She expressed optimism that the 45,000-kilometer Africa-2 Cable, which connects 33 countries, would address connectivity challenges and significantly improve the country’s internet infrastructure. She clarified that most disruptions stemmed from mobile broadband services.
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Senator Anusha Rehman raised concerns about spectrum management, pointing out the lack of consultation on spectrum allocations and their potential to attract investment. Fatima acknowledged the slow progress in mobile sector development over the last two to three years. She mentioned that the PTA had engaged US-based consultants to create new policies and noted that some countries are now offering spectrum at little or no cost to promote growth.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada expressed doubts about meeting Pakistan’s $10 billion IT export target, citing political instability as a major obstacle. Fatima countered by questioning the basis for earlier projections and criticized the misuse of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) for real estate purposes. The session concluded with calls for stronger reforms and increased transparency to tackle internet challenges and promote the growth of the IT sector.
