Lawmakers in Pakistan have criticised the government’s handling of spectrum allocation, saying repeated delays in auctions are leaving citizens with weak networks and slow internet. The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom said more spectrum was essential for modern services and asked the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) to explain the holdup at its next meeting.
During a briefing, ministry officials admitted that telecom services across Pakistan operate with only 274 MHz of spectrum, far below the regional average. They argued that the shortage is restricting network coverage, causing dropped calls and frustrating users.
The committee was informed that several cases linked to spectrum allocation are still in court, stopping the authorities from moving ahead. When questioned about who initiated these cases, the IT Secretary disclosed that FAB itself was part of the litigation.
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Tensions rose when Sun TV was named as another litigant, yet officials could not identify its owner. The committee chair expressed dissatisfaction, saying the ministry should not appear before lawmakers without complete information.
A journalist attending the session, Kulb Ali, later confirmed that Sun TV is owned by businessman Aqeel Karim Dhedhi. Senators remarked that while the media openly names him, officials appear reluctant. They proposed inviting Dhedhi to the next session to clarify his company’s role.
The ministry’s legal adviser stated that the ongoing cases have little chance of early resolution in the Supreme Court and suggested that an out-of-court settlement could speed up progress.
Committee members concluded that spectrum is a vital resource and warned that continued delays could block Pakistan’s plans for digital growth.
