Govt committed to support IT industry: Shaza

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the IT sector and unlocking the potential of digitization.

During the Question Hour in the House, she highlighted a 28% improvement in average internet speed and a 24% increase in mobile phone usage. She also noted a 25% rise in IT exports in November this year.Pharma Industry Pharma Export Promotion Council

Shaza Fatima emphasized that Pakistan’s internet currently operates at 274 megahertz, which limits accessibility. To address this, the government aims to enhance spectrum density to match the levels of the region’s top ten countries. Additionally, four new undersea cables will be installed within two years to improve internet speed and connectivity. Efforts are also underway to attract greater investment in the telecom sector.

However, she acknowledged challenges such as internet congestion and limited spectrum availability, which impact user experience.

Addressing recent internet disruptions, she stated that the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was suspended due to security concerns on the advice of the Interior Ministry. Fixed-line services, however, remained functional during such disruptions. She assured that the government is working to localize security issues to avoid large-scale internet and mobile service shutdowns in the future.

Shaza Fatima reiterated that national security remains a top priority, with a focus on enhancing cybersecurity to counter cyber-attacks, prevent data breaches, and defend against digital threats.

1. The National Forensics Agency Bill, 2024
   The Lower House passed this bill, introduced by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, to strengthen forensic capabilities nationwide. Key provisions include:
   o Upgrading traditional forensic labs.
   o Establishing a digital forensic lab to serve provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and both government and private forensic facilities.
   o Integrating digital and cyber forensics to combat electronic crimes such as deep fakes and other cyber offenses.
   o Developing a center of excellence and R&D department to ensure the agency’s self-sustainability and reduce reliance on foreign resources.
2. The Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
   Introduced by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, this bill focuses on ensuring compliance with tax laws, aligning taxes with income and consumption levels, and completing the value chain to generate resources for economic growth.