KARACHI: A Senate sub-committee on IT and telecommunications on Wednesday called for stronger legal and administrative measures to curb theft of telecom infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted services across the country.
The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, chaired by Senator Saadia Abbasi and attended by Senator Kamran Murtaza, reviewed the implementation status of its earlier recommendations on the issue at the Parliament House.
Officials informed the committee that all private telecom operators are regulated under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996, and said most incidents of theft were being reported from areas with deteriorating law and order conditions. They added that operators’ rights and obligations are clearly defined under licensing terms.
During the briefing, officials proposed strengthening contractual obligations to require telecom companies to adopt enhanced security measures for their infrastructure, alongside increased police patrolling in vulnerable areas.
Abbasi described repeated theft of telecom infrastructure as a serious issue requiring legislative intervention, adding that such offences should be placed under a stronger legal framework.
Murtaza said the financial burden of such incidents is largely borne by private telecom operators, and noted that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has yet to propose legislative amendments to address the issue.
Officials said that while theft is already punishable under existing laws, companies are often reluctant to register first information reports (FIRs), particularly in remote areas, due to lengthy legal procedures and the absence of local operational offices.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication’s Member (Legal) briefed the committee on the existing legal framework for ensuring uninterrupted telecom services. The chair directed the ministry to examine international best practices and legal mechanisms used to protect telecom infrastructure and service continuity.
PTA officials said operators have been instructed to lodge FIRs for every incident of theft at telecom sites. However, Murtaza noted that companies often avoid pursuing cases due to procedural delays. PTA representatives added that any amendment to licensing terms is itself a lengthy regulatory process.
The chair also recommended that the ministry formally engage provincial governments to support telecom operators in safeguarding infrastructure and addressing theft in their respective jurisdictions.
The committee further discussed the issue of uninterrupted power supply to telecom towers. The PTA chairperson informed members that a multi-stakeholder committee has been formed, involving all relevant entities, including power distribution companies, to develop a policy framework to ensure reliable electricity supply to telecom infrastructure.
The director-general (enforcement) informed the committee that theft incidents varied significantly across operators. He said some operators have not reported any theft cases in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Turbat and Qilla Abdullah, while others have reported incidents in some of these areas..
Expressing concerns over the disparity in reporting, Murtaza questioned why some operators have reported no theft incidents despite operating in the same regions. The PTA chairperson said these areas also faced prolonged electricity loadshedding of up to 10-12 hours daily, increasing the vulnerability of telecom infrastructure. Senator Murtaza stressed that without improvements in law and order in these regions, ensuring stable and reliable telecom services would remain a major challenge. to lodge FIRs for every incident of theft at telecom sites. However, Murtaza noted that companies often avoid pursuing cases due to procedural delays. PTA representatives added that any amendment to licensing terms is itself a lengthy regulatory process.
The chair also recommended that the ministry formally engage provincial governments to support telecom operators in safeguarding infrastructure and addressing theft in their respective jurisdictions.
The committee further discussed the issue of uninterrupted power supply to telecom towers. The PTA chairperson informed members that a multi-stakeholder committee has been formed, involving all relevant entities, including power distribution companies, to develop a policy framework to ensure reliable electricity supply to telecom infrastructure.
The director-general (enforcement) informed the committee that theft incidents varied significantly across operators. He said some operators have not reported any theft cases in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Turbat and Qilla Abdullah, while others have reported incidents in some of these areas..
Expressing concerns over the disparity in reporting, Murtaza questioned why some operators have reported no theft incidents despite operating in the same regions. The PTA chairperson said these areas also faced prolonged electricity loadshedding of up to 10-12 hours daily, increasing the vulnerability of telecom infrastructure.Senator Murtaza stressed that without improvements in law and order in these regions, ensuring stable and reliable telecom services would remain a major challenge.
