PTA chief tells Senate panel: Steps taken to improve cellular services in remote regions

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General Hafeez-ur-Rehman (retd), has stated that additional network towers have recently been installed in Chitral to improve the cellular services in the remote region, and now the total number of mobile towers in Chitral has reached 142.

Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, which met here on Monday under the Chairmanship of Senator Niaz Ahmed, PTA chief said the region has been facing network congestion due to load shedding and limited infrastructure.

He added that only a single optical fiber line currently serves Chitral, which creates vulnerabilities. If the cable is cut, often during work by the National Highway Authority of Pakistan (NHA), it leads to major service disruptions.

He noted that coordination has been requested so that PTA is informed before such projects begin.

The PTA chairman said spectrum availability had been a major issue in the past. However, the authority has recently conducted a spectrum auction, offering 480 MHz, which is expected to resolve network congestion problems.

He also highlighted that some areas rely on fiber connectivity while others depend on microwave links, adding that 5G services will require fiber infrastructure and cannot operate on microwave systems.

Discussing the power-related challenges, he said load shedding affects network performance, as backup batteries can only operate for a few hours. While generators can be used, they require significant diesel consumption, which is not feasible due to the ongoing energy crisis.

Committee members; however, stressed that telecom companies generate substantial revenue and should ensure better service delivery.

The PTA chairman also noted that the government has directed the allocation of a special budget for less developed areas.

The committee received a comprehensive briefing regarding flood control measures and a 5-megawatt hydropower project in District Chitral being executed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Addressing critical regional grievances, Senator Talha Mehmood, the mover of the agenda, drew the committee’s attention to the lack of stable internet services in Upper Chitral. He emphasised that internet service disruption creates severe hardships for the local population, forcing students and IT professionals to travel long distances to Lower Chitral just to perform basic professional tasks.

The Chairman of the PTA and CEO of USF assured the committee that immediate remedial measures are being implemented to improve the service delivery.

The committee further directed the Chairperson of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) to submit audit reports and third-party verification reports concerning the implementing partners engaged by NAVTTC in implementing various projects.

The Committee also deliberated on the strategic Khawazakhela-Besham Expressway, a 48KM project of vital importance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route.

The Chairman questioned the underlying causes for persistent delays in the project and future prospects for the early start of development of work.

The member NHA clarified that the project hit delays due to high cost and later realignment.

The committee underscored the necessity for an accelerated completion timeline.

It voiced its serious dissatisfaction regarding the absence of several federal secretaries during these critical briefings. Consequently, multiple agenda items were deferred, with the chairman issuing a directive that concerned federal secretaries and other top officials must ensure their personal attendance at the next meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026