ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Friday directed the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to devise a comprehensive mechanism to check sale and issuance of illegal SIMs.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications further directed the PTA to devise a system in collaboration with Nadra to get the SIMs closed issued in the name of deceased persons.

The standing committee had met here to discuss the Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganisation Amendment Bill 2020, and the Electronic Transaction Amendment Bill 2019. MNA Ali Khan Jadoon chaired the meeting.

While discussing the recommendations of the committee made during previous meetings, members expressed their displeasure over the lethargy of the relevant departments in devising a system for closure of SIMs.

The committee was of the view that use of illegally issued SIMs was posing threat to national security but breaching the privacy.

The committee also directed the FIA director general and PTA chairman to ensure their presence in the next meeting.

The representative of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) apprised the committee that Nadra being the custodian of national data had agreed to share the data of the deceased persons with the authority and the SIMs issued in the names of deceased would be blocked immediately.

The official further apprised about the actions taken by the Authority to address issuance of SIMs illegally.

The Committee appointed a sub-committee under the convenorship of MNA Mehmood Shah, to discuss and suggest measures for ensuring telecommunication services in the country especially Baluchistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA). The sub-committee was asked to submit its report within thirty days.

The committee members on the request of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, allowed the government to withdraw Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The ministry submitted that the draft bill initially aimed to amend the law to provide information technology infrastructure for e-health and e-education. However, in the present emerging information technology and telecommunication requirements, it needed more time to ponder and bring comprehensive amendments to the existing Law.

The members of the committee also disposed of the Electronic Transaction Bill, 2019 moved by MNA Amjid Ali Khan, accepting the point of view of the ministry. The ministry had contended that the existing law was sufficiently comprehensive.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2021