ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Technology and Communications Anusha Rehman on Thursday assured the National Assembly Special Committee on Information Technology that the bill on cyber crime would be reviewed in consultation with all the stakeholders.
The committee, which met with Capt (R) Muhammad Safdar in the chair, discussed various issues pertaining to the information technology.
Anusha Rehman said the government was making all-out efforts to seek resolution of the issues confronting the sector with special regard to the formulation of cyber crime bill.
The meeting took up the Telegraph Amendment Bill 2014 which was moved by Asiya Nasir, performance of Special Communication Organization (SCO) and National ICT Research and Development Funds.
The minister of state told the committee that after assuming of the charge of by the PML-N government, the broad band tendency had been increased by 15pc, which had ultimately enhanced the access of people to the Internet and other on-line facilities.
The SCO Director General briefed the committee about the development work, future plans, ongoing projects regarding telecom services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), FATA, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
He told the committee that the SCO was working with China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the area of GB facilitating the surrounding areas of the Motorway as part of the CPEC.
He informed the committee that the private telecom companies were not allowed to launch their services in the war zone areas adding that SCO providing its services in these areas to facilitate the masses in the area.
He said that on the directives of Minister Planning Division, the National Highway Authority lay down the fiber optical all along the route of motorway.
He informed the committee that India was investing a hefty amount on socio-economic development in Jammu Kashmir aiming at to change their minds.
The chairman assured the DG SCO for all out support for provision of better telecommunication facilities in the areas adjoining Indian Held Kashmir.
The Committee recommended that the remote areas of GB, FATA be included in the CPEC project.
Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari member of the Committee highlighted the need for the expansion of telecommunication facilities to the remote areas so that the inhabitants of the area be brought at par with those living in developed chunks.
Anusha Rahman informed that she asked the JK, GB to establish their own companies for Universal Services Fund (USF) but they could not established.
She said the USF was working under the rules of PEPRA and it takes the projects at minimum budget.
The committee was informed that USF funds for AJK and GB is separate from other provinces.
The committee observed that role of PTA has been increased due to CPEC.
The committee strongly criticized the cellular companies for their failure to provide services in all areas of the country. The Chairman said that MNA's of the different areas were complaining about the bad services of these companies.
At the end the IT Minister requested the committee that extra taxes on cellular companies should be decreased as it was a big hurdle in the way of new cellular companies.
She said the companies were facing double taxes federal and provinces, which is injustice and extra burden on the masses.
The members who were attending the committee under the chairmanship of Capt(R) Muhammad Safdar, Talal Choudhary, Asiya Nasir, Anusha Rahman, Sardar Awais Leghari, Dawar Khan Kundi, Syed Ali Raza Abidi, Majot Tahir Iqbal.
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