• MNAs complain poor connectivity affecting parliament’s paperless mechanism
• Minister assures them spectrum auction will address problem
• Concerns raised over digital harassment, online fraud
ISLAMABAD: Several members of the National Assembly on Thursday raised the issue of slow internet speed in the House as well as across the country, in the context of recent efforts to switch to a paperless working environment in parliament to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Despite repeated requests by the NA chair, the majority of MNAs from all sides paid no attention to the implementation of the paperless system in parliament.
Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah reminded members that parliamentary proceedings were being automated as part of efforts to modernise the functioning of the House and the physical distribution of bills and other documents would soon be eradicated.
“All the members have been provided with tablets to facilitate paperless proceedings and improve efficiency. We want to minimise paper usage,” Shah said.
JUI-F MNA Naeema Kishwer responded that she was attempting to benefit from the paperless mechanism, but had been unable to download documents for the past hour due to poor internet connectivity.
She requested the NA Secretariat to resolve the issue to ensure the smooth functioning of proceedings and timely access to official material for lawmakers.
The deputy speaker later directed the authorities to address the internet problem in the House.
PPP lawmaker Dr Nafisa Shah said members had failed to comply with the speaker’s instructions regarding the use of tablets during sittings, “possibly due to a lack of understanding of the gadgets”.
Some MNAs called for the establishment of a dedicated desk in the NA to facilitate members facing issues with the digital system.
Lawmakers, including Sharmila Faruqui, questioned the reasons for slow internet across the country and asked whether the spectrum auction would result in better internet facilities for consumers.
Federal Information Technology and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja replied that internet services were expected to improve following the recent spectrum auction aimed at strengthening the country’s telecommunications infrastructure. She added that telecom operators had halted the opening of letters of credit in 2022, affecting the import of equipment and network expansion.
Khawaja further said that the stabilisation of the dollar after 2022 had helped improve conditions for the telecom sector and infrastructure development.
The minister described the recent exercise as “the world’s largest spectrum auction”, saying it would contribute to improving connectivity and digital services in Pakistan.
