ISLAMABAD, May 16: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology on Monday observed that IT played a key role in socio-economic development and called for encouraging competitive environment in the sector. The meeting, which was presided over by Senator Tahir Iqbal, was given a detailed briefing on the functions and performance of IT and telecommunication ministry and its attached departments.

Information Technology Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and senators Nisar Ahmed Memon, Mohammad Amjad Abbas, Eng. Rashid Ahmed, Mohammad Sarwar Khan Kakar, Dr Mohammad Said and Rukhsana Zuberi also attended the meeting.

IT Secretary Khalid Saeed informed the committee about the progress made on the projects launched by the ministry. He said amendments made to Pakistan Telecommunications Reorganization Act, 1996, Draft Electronic Crime Bill, 2005 and Draft Data Protection Act, 2005 would soon be placed before the cabinet for its approval.

Thereafter, the same would be submitted to the parliament for reconsideration. He said deregulation and privatization policy had rendered positive results and the PTCL had decided to offer 26 per cent more shares for privatization as 12 per cent had been privatized previously.

The committee, during briefing on wireless local loop (WLL) system, was informed that the PTCL had introduced the system in phases and in view of deployment of WLL system in different areas, it had embarked upon a far bigger project of provision of 2.3 million WLL lines throughout the country under phase-II.

It was critical of franchising matters of WLL and constituted a two-member subcommittee with Senator Amjad Abbas as convener to review the criteria of awarding franchise and dealership.

The subcommittee will also look into the services provided to customers through WLL system and submit its proposals with a view to improving the system and providing more relief to the public.