Sharmila Faruqui slams government poor internet speed during National Assembly session
Islamabad: A heated discussion broke out in the National Assembly over Pakistan’s poor internet speed and challenges in the IT sector.
During the question hour, MPA Sharmila Faruqui strongly criticized the government, saying that while officials talk about improving connectivity nationwide, even the Parliament struggles with internet access. She remarked that the Prime Minister dreams of boosting IT exports to $25 billion, yet the internet “barely works” inside the assembly.
Faruqui further said that no authority, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), is being honest about the real issues. She warned that if the internet quality is this poor in major cities, the condition in rural areas must be far worse.
Responding to her concerns, Parliamentary Secretary for IT Sabeen Ghauri explained that a recent cable cut of international scale had disrupted internet services, affecting Pakistan as well. She added that cybersecurity risks and global technical issues also contribute to slower speeds.
Ghauri assured lawmakers that most internet problems would be resolved within six to eight months. She also announced that the Islamabad IT Park will begin operations by February next year, creating around 7,000 jobs, while the Karachi IT Park is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
