Senate IT Committee Raises Alarm Over Slow Internet in Chitral, Proposes Sub-Committee

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Wednesday voiced serious concern over slow internet speeds and poor mobile connectivity in Chitral, directing authorities to address the issue affecting residents of the remote region.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, reviewed the agenda focusing on internet connectivity problems in Lower and Upper Chitral.

During the session, Senator Talha Mahmood said the slow internet speed had become the most pressing issue for residents of the district. He noted that billions of rupees under the Universal Service Fund (USF) were currently lying with the Ministry of IT and could be utilized to improve digital infrastructure in underserved areas.

Mahmood asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to provide a detailed briefing on the current internet situation in Lower and Upper Chitral. He also highlighted that mobile services often disappear after sunset in the region, creating serious communication difficulties for local communities.

“Mobile towers that remain operational during the day should also be kept functional at night,” he said, urging authorities to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.

Responding to the concerns, the Secretary of the Ministry of IT informed the committee that an optical fiber project had been initiated under the USF specifically for Chitral. The Chief Executive Officer of USF added that authorities could include additional areas facing connectivity problems in upcoming development projects once they were identified.

To further examine the issue, the committee chairperson proposed the formation of a sub-committee to investigate mobile signal and internet service challenges in remote areas. The committee approved the proposal and appointed Senator Sadia Abbasi as convener of the sub-committee.

The sub-committee will review connectivity challenges and present recommendations aimed at improving telecommunications services in underserved regions.