PTA issues show-cause notices to five telecom operators over poor internet services in Pakistan

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued show-cause notices to five telecom operators over inadequate internet services as a National Assembly committee expressed concern about persistent connectivity problems across the country.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued show-cause notices to five telecom operators over inadequate internet services as a National Assembly committee expressed concern about persistent connectivity problems across the country.

The issue was discussed during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology chaired by MNA Syed Amin ul Haq on Tuesday. Members observed that internet service quality had failed to reach the required standards despite efforts made over the past two years.

The committee highlighted frequent connectivity problems in major cities including Karachi and Islamabad particularly signal interruptions during WhatsApp calls. It also pointed out that internet services remained extremely poor or unavailable in several smaller cities and remote districts.

PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez ur Rehman informed the committee that the authority had conducted surveys to identify service deficiencies and directed telecom companies to address the problems within three months.

He said five show-cause notices had been issued over the past three months after operators failed to meet the required service standards. However, the recovery of financial penalties had been delayed because the companies approached courts and secured stay orders.

The PTA chairman also identified prolonged electricity shortages as a major reason behind connectivity problems. He explained that power outages lasting 12 to 16 hours in some rural areas affected telecom towers and disrupted internet services.

Regarding network improvements he said approximately 70 per cent of 5G services in Karachi had been rolled out following the spectrum auction. Around 2,300 telecom towers had also been upgraded to support the new technology.

The committee also reviewed the Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill 2026 but agreed to defer it until consultations with the Pakistan Peoples Party were completed.

Separately, the Pakistan Digital Authority briefed members on the National Digital Master Plan which focuses on three key areas: Digital Society, Digital Economy and Digital Governance.

The initiative aims to expand access to digital services encourage technology-driven economic growth and improve transparency and efficiency in public institutions. The authority said a comprehensive roadmap, implementation targets and performance indicators would guide federal and provincial departments in carrying out the plan.