ISLAMABAD

A heated session of the Senate IT Committee exposed deep concerns over mobile connectivity in Lakki Marwat, as lawmakers challenged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) over alleged service disruptions and infrastructure failures.

PTA officials told the committee that no formal suspension of mobile services had taken place in the district. However, lawmakers strongly contested the claim, with Senator Ata ur Rehman dismissing the briefing as inaccurate and accusing the regulator of relying on flawed information.

“You may not have even seen Lakki Marwat,” he remarked, adding that multiple issues had been flagged in earlier meetings but remained unresolved on the ground.

The committee chairperson raised concerns over operational challenges, pointing to fuel shortages affecting telecom towers. “If there is no diesel, how will signals function?” she questioned, highlighting a growing dependency on fuel-powered generators in remote areas.

Responding to the criticism, PTA Chairman Hafeez ur Rehman said several technical issues had been addressed, including generator faults and localized disruptions. However, he acknowledged a broader national challenge, noting that rising diesel prices have impacted network reliability across Pakistan.

Lawmakers, including Senator Saadia Abbasi, pointed out that countries like India are transitioning telecom infrastructure to solar energy, urging Pakistan to adopt more sustainable alternatives.

The session also turned contentious over allegations of fuel theft, with Senator Palwasha Khan claiming diesel pilferage was contributing to outages. The PTA chief conceded the issue, admitting, “Yes, diesel theft is happening.”

The discussion underscores mounting pressure on telecom regulators to ensure uninterrupted connectivity, particularly in underserved regions, as economic constraints and infrastructure gaps continue to challenge Pakistan’s digital backbone.