State Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman on Thursday said that grey trafficking caused an estimated loss of $4 billion to the national exchequer during the International Clearing House (ICH) policy regime. With the withdrawal of ICH policy and de-regulation of the market, call rates declined significantly which resulted in low margin for people in menace of grey trafficking and hence white trafficking increased.
The minister stated this while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication. The committee met with Captain Mohammad Safdar (Retd) in the chair. The committee chairman said that SIMs used in grey trafficking are creating hurdles in Operation Zarb-e-Azb to trace the persons. He recommended increasing efforts to control grey trafficking and for making the operation against terrorists a success.
The minister said that white traffic increased from 375 million minutes/month to 1.57 billion in October, 2015, which indicates that grey traffic has gone down to negligible level. The rates of incoming international calls have now reduced from 8.8 US cents/mm to 1.2 US cents/mm, resulting in eradication of financial incentive for grey traffickers.
Safdar said grey trafficking was causing loss of billions of rupees, however after the directives of Prime Minister, the menace has been controlled. He further said that big fish are behind the grey traffic, based in Pakistan, Dubai etc.
However ministry expressed inability to totally control grey trafficking in the country, which is causing huge financial losses and serious security threats. "It is not possible 100 percent to eliminate grey traffic as 4-5 percent grey trafficking is acceptable world-wide". Secretary IT said that prosecution has its own importance and effective punishment is needed to overcome grey trafficking in the country. Minister said that the offense has been included in the cyber law. Cases have been filed with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). She said that 400-500 minutes transferred to OTT may not come into the system again.
Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Akbar Hoti revealed that mobile companies in the far flung areas are allegedly issuing one SIM to people who have little know how about SIMs issuing process. FIA is looking at grey trafficking from different angles including financial terrorism, teasing women and how people make money. However due to significant decline in prices, grey trafficking is no more beneficial. Grey trafficking through computer software is being used for terrorists financing and it difficult to trace. It can be traced only from mobile towers.
He said that a total of 268 FIRs were registered during 2009-15, 401 persons were arrested, and loss of Rs 3356.886 million incurred to the national exchequer, and 29 people were convicted. During 2015, 64 FIRs were registered, 91 people were arrested, Rs 68.64 million losses to national exchequer were recorded and 24 people were convicted. Now FIA is not looking after benefit from grey trafficking but searching for terrorism financing.
Minister said that inquiry into grey trafficking has been started, however a company despite having proofs against it of involvement in grey trafficking was given clean chit. Due to poor prosecution system, such companies and operators get clean chit which is very disturbing, said the minister.
Chairman PTA said that SIMs used in fake messaging with the name of BISP are continuously being blocked while those CNIC are black-listed. He further proposed that BISP should have a short code on which it should send messages. The committee directed PTA chairman to ask telecom operators to brief the panel about its expansion program, business etc in the country. PTA chairman said that industry is in difficult time due to some issues. Further it is a private sector and it may not be possible for them to come. MNA Talal Chaudhry asked committee chairman for issuing arrest warrant, if they refuse to attend the committee meeting.
Farhana Qamar backed PTA chairman while saying that telecom is a private sector and it would not be a good precedent to ask them to attend the committee meeting. "One should not ask telecom operators to Line Hazir", she added.
Chairman of the committee said that we are just asking them to brief the committee about its work and will also hear their problems. Minister said that all FIA and PTA raids are meaningless, if people get release due to poor prosecution. DG FIA said that the Agency has low paid Inspectors to fight the case in the court, while others hire lawyers for millions of rupees. The committee recommended taking support from the Attorney General of Pakistan, which comprises on renowned lawyers.
Pakistan and China are vigorously pursuing Fibre-Optic cable from the Chinese border to Rawalpindi; however PTA, one of the main stakeholders is yet to be taken on board. These situations were also confirmed by Chairman PTA Syed Ismail Shah on Thursday in the meeting. "We have not been officially informed about the Fibre optic project under the CPEC", said Shah.
Secretary Ministry of Information Technology Azmat Ali Ranjha said that the task of the project has been given to Special Communications Organisation (SCO). He said that PC-1 worth Rs 1.4 billion has been sent to the Planning Commission in this regard. Safdar directed for arranging a meeting of PTA and National Highway Authority (NHA) to work out for expanding mobile network in the areas coming under the CPEC. Member Telecom Ministry of IT said that a master plan has been finalised and approved in this regard. Further Telecom Policy would allow national roaming which would resolve coverage problems in these areas.
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