NA body directs PTA to have close liaison with enforcement and security agencies

ISLAMABAD: Standing committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday directed PTA to have a close liaison with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding blasphemous materials on social media.

The committee was held under the chairmanship of Syed Ali Raza Abidi while Mehar Ishtiaq Ahmed, Zehra Wadood Fatemi, Sardar Kamal Khan Chang, Amjid Ali Khan, Dawar Khan Kundi (Eng), Shahjehan Muneer Mangrio and Ch Muhammad Tufail also attended .

Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Dr.Syed Ismail Shah briefed the committee that PTA have a close liaison with law enforcement and security agencies to handle the complaints regarding blasphemous material on social media.

The PTA had received 8000 complaints via email, out of which 188 were particularly about blasphemous content,PTA took action gainst the complaints and the complaints related to threat and harassment have been refer to FIA .

He told that PTA has deployed a team of 25 IT personals for this purpose and so far PTA has blocked around 13,210 blasphemous links.

Acting CEO Universal Service Fund Haris Chaudhary briefed the committee that in FY 2017-18 USF plans to launch projects to cover unnerved areas in North Waziristan Agency, FR Bannu, FR Lakki Marwat, South Wairistan.

USFco will launch project in this FY, to provide voice and mobile internet service in these areas as soon as security is cleared by security agencies, he told.

In FY 2017-18 implantation on established of first batch of 10 telecenters by Pakistan Mobile Communication Ltd, JAZZ has been initiated and YSF also plans to launch another tender for establishment of 20 more telecenters. Official of SCO told the committee that telecom operators have failed to provide satisfactory services in federal administrative tribal area (FATA) due to security and low service potential.

The committee was also informed about the launching of next generation mobile service in Gligit-Balistatan( MGMS).