Senate Standing Committee reviews progress and future plans for IT and telecommunications projects

ISLAMABAD, July 31 (SABAH): The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, presided over by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, convened today at Parliament House.

The meeting featured the presence of Senator Dr. Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Gurdeep Singh, Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmed Khan, Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Senator Manzoor Ahmed, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Pakistan, The Secretary of Information Technology, and senior officials from Universal Service Funds (USF), National Information Technology Board (NITB), Virtual University, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and other affiliated departments.

The meeting began with a detailed briefing by the Universal Service Fund (USF) on the province-wise project details. Officials reported that in Balochistan, there are currently seven projects in progress, 27 projects completed, and a total of 34 access projects for the province. Similarly, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are 18 access projects, with 10 completed and eight in progress. In Punjab, there are 29 total access projects, with 25 completed and four in progress.

In Islamabad, both access projects have been completed. In Sindh, there are 19 total access projects, with 16 completed and three in progress. The lack of attention to the Tharparkar area was highlighted, and it was reported that Tharparkar is being prioritized. USF informed that while reporting on Sindh that there is no immediate drastic shortage of funds, there is still a need for funding. When inquired about 3G services in various areas of Balochistan, it was reported that most of the 3G projects have been completed. However, Balochistan faces security issues that often hinder project completion.

The committee members were further briefed on access projects for national highways, motorways, and tourist destinations. It was noted that many sites are off-grid and rely on solar power. Senator Anusha Rahman recommended that USF officials address this issue, as it is a significant problem for people traveling to these areas who are unable to get connectivity.

 Additionally, the Impact Assessment Study report in the areas where USF projects have been completed was presented. It comprises of quantitative and qualitative survey by USF and it was shared with the committee members.

The Minister of MoITT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja briefed on the current budget of the ministry and its spending plan. In addition, the Secretary, (MoITT), provided information on IT professional certifications, project KPIs, project impact, and the targets achieved. The Secretary, (MoITT)  further added that the government is ensuring sufficient infrastructure is available for freelancers and emphasized the need to encourage the private sector.

She explained that they maintain regular communication and coordinate through social media platforms like Tech Destination to reach a national audience. Chairperson Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan recommended that the Ministry should utilize mass media tools for extensive reach.

While acknowledging the recommendation, the Secretary explained that there is currently a budget scarcity that prevents adopting a mass media strategy. The Secretary also informed the committee members that they are encouraging the relevant departments to ensure quality is maintained.

Senator Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan suggested that the ministry should break the stagnation of growth. The Secretary acknowledged Senator Anusha’s recommendations and added that they would expedite the development process. Additionally, while reporting on the current non-development budget for the financial year 2024-25, the Minister (MoITT) informed the committee members that June 2024 showed a 32% growth compared to last year.

At the end of the meeting, the CEO of the National Information Technology Board (NITB) Baber Majid Bhatti briefed the committee members on its mandate, functions, work, and services. The CEO also briefed the committee members about successful projects and shared the road map of future national projects for digitization of the country.