ISLAMABAD: Representatives of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Division on Monday once again told the Senate Sub-committee on Delegated Legislation that the Special Communication Organisation (SCO) cannot work across the country.

However, the committee chaired by Mohammad Daud Khan Achakzai directed the ministry to prepare a draft with the consultation of SCO and submit it in a week regarding increasing the ambit of the latter.

SCO is a public sector organisation established in 1976 to develop, operate and maintain telecom services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. SCO has developed massive IT and Telecom infrastructure including the laying down of over 2,500 kilometres of optical fibre cable network across the entire area.

However, the SCO has now been demanding amendments in the act to allow it to work across the country and launch a country-wide mobile phone service with a number of concessions. On the other hand, the ministry says that if concessions are given to SCO, private cellular companies will also demand the same. The ministry also said that the almost 40,000 employees of the SCO will be become a liability for the government if the project fails.

The body took the decision even though it was reminded that SCO’s work is limited to AJK, GB

Earlier on June 12, member legal of the ministry, Amina Sohail had challenged the mandate of the Standing Committee and claimed it can only look at the amendments in rules and regulations and cannot amend an act of Pakistan on its own. However, Senator Javed Abbasi was annoyed by the remarks and staged a walkout. It was then decided that Ms Sohail will not be allowed to attend the meeting.

The ministry’s joint secretary on Monday told the meeting that a committee of the ministry had met with SCO members on July 18 to look into the issue.

“It has been decided that the SCO can be given financial autonomy but it cannot be allowed to work outside its ambit as that will create problems,” he said.

However, the chairman of the committee directed that both departments should hold discussions with one another and submit a joint report which should be submitted in a week.

Discussing complaints by former employees of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited regarding the delay in the payment of pension and the amount for golden handshakes, the committee directed all concerned departments to submit more detail about the issue.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2017