ISLAMABAD, Sep 26 (APP):Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication (IT) Wednesday directed to constitute a committee to resolve the issue of closure of internet Services & Mobile Cellular Services in districts of Balochistan.
The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Rubina Khalid while Senator Abdul Rehman Malik, Dr Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi, Ruksana Zuberi, Sana Jamali, Taj Muhammad Afridi and Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh also attended the meeting.
The issue of closure of internet Services & Mobile Cellular Services of Districts of Balochistan raised by Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi on which committee has called Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in next meeting and directed to respond soon, as the committee has to submit the report before Senate on Oct 30.
Official of Universal Service Fund (USF) told the committee that on Feb 2017 the data services in seven district of Balochistan have been closed, out of which data service in three districts of Balochistan Chamman, Kharan and Dalbandin have been restored on March 2018 as per the instruction of ISI.
He said, USF’ largest funding has been done in Balochistan, Major part of telecommunication infrastructure that exist in Balochistan today is that of USF.
USF has undertaken different projects in Balochistan in the categories of broadband for Sustainable Development Programme , Optic Fiber Cable programme and special project initiatives, he added.
Senator Main Muhammad Ateeq raised the objection on the delay in E-Office project as it was started ten years ago, the contact was awarded to LMKT and the company (LMKT) was supposed to complete in within 30 months.
Official of National Information Technology Board (NITB) Nasir A. Naqwi told the committee that due to some technological challenges delay has been occur but now the project will be complete soon.
He briefed the committee regarding the on going project i.e E-Office Development in all division of Federal Government, Online recruitment system for FPSC and Strengthening of ICT infrastructure and office automation of President secretariat would be completed in 2019.
