ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology & Telecommunication has expressed concern over a five-year delay in the completion of an IT park in Karachi.

Chairman of the Committee Syed Amin ul Haque said that the IT Ministry has failed to effectively pursue and advance the Karachi IT Park project.

Haque read out from the records that the project was introduced in 2021; however, despite the passage of nearly five years, no significant progress has been made.

He stated that although an advertisement has been published for the hiring of a local consultant, the bidders have yet to be effectively engaged and no clear timeline has been established for the completion of the project.

Project launched in 2021 has seen little advancement, regrets standing committee; members voice concern over unsatisfactory internet connectivity

The Committee observed that the unnecessary delays are resulting in a continuous escalation of project costs.

It directed that a comprehensive progress report on the Karachi IT Park project be presented at the next meeting, including details of the current status of the project, challenges faced, future course of action, and the expected completion timeline.

The Committee further directed that transparency, merit and good governance be strictly ensured throughout all stages of the project.

With regard to the Islamabad IT Park project, the Committee directed the Ministry to present a detailed progress report at its next meeting.

While discussing internet coverage across the country, the Committee expressed concern over the unsatisfactory state of internet connectivity in various parts of Pakistan.

The Committee noted that, despite surveys and assessments conducted by the relevant authorities, internet coverage in several constituencies remains inadequate or virtually non-existent, causing difficulties for residents and limiting access to digital services.

In response, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed the Committee that it has engaged with the relevant stakeholders, including the power sector authorities, to address the issue.

PTA explained that many of the connectivity challenges are attributable to electricity outages and loadshedding, which adversely affect the operation of telecommunication infrastructure.

The authority further informed the Committee that following the 5G spectrum auction, telecom operators are undertaking extensive upgrades of their networks and infrastructure.

As part of these efforts, the average 4G data speeds, which previously stood at approximately 4 Mbps, are expected to be enhanced to around 20 Mbps. Furthermore, with the deployment and expansion of 5G infrastructure, internet speeds are projected to reach up to 50 Mbps, thereby significantly improving the quality of broadband services available to consumers.

The Committee deferred the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026 till its next meeting.

The meeting was attended by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, Sadiq Ali Memon, Ahmad Saleem Siddiqui, Asia Ishaque Siddiqui and Ammar Ahmad Khan Leghari.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026