NA IT committee expresses concern over delays in Karachi IT park project

ISLAMABAD, Jun 02 (APP): The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the slow progress of the Karachi IT Park project, saying the ministry has failed to move it forward effectively.

The meeting, chaired by Syed Amin ul Haque, noted that the project was launched in 2021 but has seen little progress even after nearly five years.

Although an advertisement has been issued to hire a local consultant, the committee said bidders have not been properly engaged, and no clear timeline has been set for completion. The committee also warned that delays are continuously increasing project costs.

It directed the ministry to present a detailed progress report on the Karachi IT Park project in the next meeting, including its current status, challenges, plan, and expected completion timeline. It also stressed that transparency, merit, and good governance must be ensured at every stage.

For the Islamabad IT Park project, the committee asked for a detailed update in the next meeting and directed that its inauguration be held in the first week of August as planned. The committee said the timely completion of the Islamabad IT Park is important for promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth in the IT sector.

It added that the project will create opportunities for tech companies, freelancers, startups, and students, while strengthening the digital economy and improving job prospects for youth.

The committee also reviewed the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026. During the discussion, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members raised objections, saying the proposed amendments had not been consulted with the party’s parliamentary committee.

They opposed proceeding with the bill at this stage.

The committee said it supports consultation and consensus in lawmaking, but noted that no proper stakeholder consultation had taken place in this case. The bill was deferred until the next meeting, with instructions to complete consultations before resubmission.

While reviewing internet coverage across the country, the committee expressed concern about poor connectivity in several areas, noting that many constituencies still face weak or no internet access.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told the committee it is working with relevant stakeholders, including the power sector, to address the issue. It said electricity outages and load-shedding are major reasons for telecom disruptions.

PTA also said telecom operators are upgrading networks after the 5G spectrum auction. It added that average 4G speeds, currently around 4 Mbps, are expected to increase to about 20 Mbps.

With the rollout of 5G infrastructure, internet speeds may reach up to 50 Mbps, significantly improving broadband services in the country.