ISLAMABAD: The poor quality of mobile services and internet connectivity across Pakistan came under scrutiny at a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, chaired by Amin-ul-Haq, as lawmakers pressed the telecom regulator over persistent complaints about dropped calls, weak services and inadequate internet quality.

The committee discussed the issue of substandard mobile services across the country, with members stressing the need for urgent measures to improve the quality of telecom services available to consumers.

Chairman Amin-ul-Haq said the problem of poor mobile service across Pakistan needed to be addressed, highlighting growing concerns among users over the reliability and quality of telecom connectivity.

The committee also questioned why consumers were frequently required to make the same call multiple times before successfully connecting. The chairperson stressed that improving mobile service quality was essential and said the repeated need to make calls showed the difficulties faced by ordinary users.

During the briefing, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) officials acknowledged that problems relating to internet quality and mobile services existed across the country.

The committee sought details from the regulator on enforcement action taken against telecom companies over poor-quality services during the past six months.

In response, PTA officials told lawmakers that four show-cause notices had been issued to telecom companies during the last six months in connection with service-quality issues.

The regulator further informed the committee that 48 show-cause notices had been issued to telecom companies over the past several years, while 22 warning letters had also been issued.

According to PTA officials, the authority had imposed fines amounting to Rs68.9 million on telecom companies as part of its enforcement measures against violations and service-related issues.

The committee’s questioning focused on whether existing regulatory action was sufficient to ensure that telecom operators maintain acceptable service standards across the country.

PTA officials told the committee that the regulator can impose a maximum fine of Rs350 million on a telecom company, depending on the nature and seriousness of a violation.

The discussion highlights the growing pressure on Pakistan’s telecom regulator and operators to improve network performance as mobile phones and internet connectivity have become essential for communication, digital payments, online education, businesses and access to public services.

For millions of users, unreliable connectivity can translate into repeated failed calls, slow or inconsistent internet speeds and disruptions to routine digital activities. The committee’s discussion therefore puts renewed focus on whether penalties and warnings are translating into measurable improvements in service quality.

The lawmakers’ demand for details of enforcement action also indicates a push for greater accountability from telecom operators, particularly in areas where consumers continue to report weak mobile and internet services.

The committee is expected to continue examining the quality of telecom services and the measures being taken by the PTA to ensure operators meet required standards.