Starlink likely to start by June, NA panel told
ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) and Telecom was informed on Tuesday that the process to initiate Starlink internet services in Pakistan was almost complete and the service would be available in the country by June this year.
The committee which met here with its chairman Aminul Haq in the chair, expressed its displeasure with the problems in the availability of internet services in parts of the country. The committee members hoped that after the start of the Starlink those issued could be resolved.
The parliamentary secretary for IT told the committee that the discussions with Starlink had reached the final stage and its services would be available by June this year. The secretary said that 90% process had been completed. Therefore, the licence to the Starlink would be issued soon.
During the meeting, the committee discussed the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects for the IT ministry for the financial year 2024-25. The ministry said that Rs24 billion was allocated in the PSDP, adding that more than Rs2 billion had, so far, been spent in the current fiscal year.
The committee members raised the problems pertaining to the internet availability in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Special Communication Organisation (SCO) officials said that a plan was in hand to expand mobile services in the regions at a cost of Rs780 million.
Regarding the establishment of an IT park in Karachi, the IT ministry officials stated said that Rs6 billion was allocated for the project this year, but the amount could not be utilised because it was still in the design phase. Committee member Mustafa Kamal urged effective planning for the project.
Another committee member, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, pointed to the non-completion of the Islamabad IT park project for a long time. The ministry officials said that a Korean company was working on the project. The chair said that the committee would visit the project after the next meeting.
The chair asked the ministry to expedite the work on the Personal Data Protection Bill. The IT ministry secretary told the committee that the minister concerned was on board on the bill. The committee was informed that a draft of the artificial intelligence (AI) policy had been sent to the cabinet for approval.
During the meeting, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman briefed the committee regarding internet speed and connectivity. He said that the PTA generated Rs1,700 billion revenue in the last 6 years the government had not invested even a single rupee in this sector in several years. He informed the committee that high-speed internet connectivity required fibre cables.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
25 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Non-development spending outpaces development growth
Sindh's non-development expenditures are projected to increase by 12.4 per cent in the fiscal year 2025-26, primarily due to rising salaries, pensions, and other operational costs within the government. In contrast, development expenditures are expected to grow by a more modest 6.1 per cent. The development budget, which stood at Rs959 billion in the current fiscal year, will rise to Rs1,018 billion for the upcoming year. Meanwhile, non-development spending is set to see a more substantial increase — from Rs1,912 billion to Rs2,150 billion. The Sindh government announced a 10 to 12 per cent salary increase for government employees while an eight per cent increase is proposed in pensions in the budget 2025-26. The Sindh Chief Minister, in the budget speech at Sindh Assembly on Friday, announced adhoc relief allowance at the rate of 12% for employees in grades BS-1 to BS-16 and a 10 per cent raise for those in grades BS-17 to BS-22, along with an 8 per cent increase in pensions, in order to equip them to bear the impact of inflation. The government has proposed to continue with the provision of Personal Pay to 163,701 employees between BPS-1 to BPS-6 in the new financial year, he said. The government has also proposed to enhance the monthly rate of Special Conveyance Allowance from Rs4,000 to Rs6,000 to the differently abled employees for providing meaningful support to the underprivileged segment of society. The CM, at the occasion, claimed that the Sindh government has fully cleared all outstanding pension dues of civil servants who retired on or before June 30th 2025 with the financial impact of Rs35 billion during the CFY. This year, the education and transport sectors have received the largest increases in budget allocations. However, funding for housing, social protection, and culture has been reduced compared to the previous year. According to budget documents, the allocation for the housing sector has been cut from Rs42 billion to Rs35 billion. Similarly, funding for social protection has decreased from Rs381 billion to Rs362 billion. Cultural and recreational spending will also decline, dropping from Rs11 billion to Rsnine billion - a reduction of Rstwo billion.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
CAT upholds CCP decision, confirms pharma co misled hospitals by false marketing
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) has upheld a significant decision by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), confirming that a pharmaceutical company misled hospitals by falsely marketing a life-saving product for kidney patients. The Tribunal dismissed the appeal of 3N LIFEMED Pharmaceuticals and endorsed the Commission's finding of deceptive marketing—though it reduced the monetary penalty from Rs20 million to Rs2 million. The CCP had received a formal complaint from M/s Renacon Pharma Limited, which accused 3N LIFEMED of using fake quality certifications to market Haemodialysis Concentrate, a crucial product used in the treatment of kidney failure. The CCP's investigation revealed that 3N LIFEMED had falsely claimed its product was certified with Conformité Européene (CE) and Quality Management System (QMS) marks, obtained from a non-accredited firm based in Islamabad. These certifications, although voluntary under Pakistani laws, are widely seen as benchmarks of quality and are often required in public procurement tenders. The misleading claims were found to have misinformed hospitals and patients, creating a false impression of superior safety and efficacy in a sensitive market segment. Haemodialysis Concentrate is classified as a medical device by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and is used to create dialysis fluid, which must closely match the patient's natural blood chemistry to prevent complications. During the CAT proceedings, 3N LIFEMED's counsel argued that the company ceased using the disputed markings after receiving a show-cause notice from CCP and insisted that the product was DRAP-approved. They also attempted to shift blame to SIMS-AGS, the Islamabad-based company that issued the certifications, whose international accreditation was revoked in 2020. However, CCP's counsel countered that 3N LIFEMED, as a pharmaceutical company, should have known that such certifications cannot simply be purchased but must be earned through rigorous inspections. The Tribunal agreed with CCP's position, observing that while such certifications may not be legally mandatory, they influence procurement decisions and public trust—and misusing them constitutes deception. In light of 3N LIFEMED's financial capacity, the Tribunal reduced the penalty to Rs2 million but imposed a strict compliance deadline: failure to pay within ten days will attract an additional fine of Rs100,000 per day. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Sindh sets record with Rs1trn development budget for FY26
KARACHI: Despite mounting fiscal pressures, the Sindh government has allocated a record-breaking development budget of over one trillion rupees for the next fiscal year (FY26)-the highest ever in the province history. The Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, on Friday, in his budget speech for FY26 said that the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY26 reflects a strategic balance between fiscal prudence and targeted development. 'With a focus on social sectors, resilience, and equity, the Government of Sindh is committed to ensuring development that is inclusive, climate smart, and aligned with long-term goals,' he added. As per announcement, budget allocation for the provincial development expenditure has been increased by 6 percent from Rs 959.1 billion (FY25) to Rs 1.018 trillion for the next fiscal year. The development outlay for the next fiscal year is also 24 percent higher than actual spending and revised budget estimates of this fiscal year, which was Rs 817.2 billion. The total development expenditure outlay includes Rs 520 billion of Provincial ADP and Rs. 55 billion for district ADP, Rs. 366.7 billion for Foreign Project Assistance and Rs 75.58 billion for federal PSDP schemes. Chief Minister in his budget speech said that despite fiscal pressures, the ADP for FY26 has increased modestly to Rs 1.018 trillion, reflecting the Government's commitment to sustaining development momentum while focusing on efficiency, equity, and economic recovery. The proposed allocations signal a move towards a climate-smart, inclusive, and regionally balanced development agenda, in line with Sindh's longer-term vision. Out of 1,777 ongoing (LTBC) schemes funded in FY25, 1,494 or 84 percent will be completed within the current fiscal year. Special Initiatives in FY26 have been proposed includes new development initiatives Rs 15 billion, Rehabilitation of Flood-Damaged Infrastructure Rs 12 billion, Renewable Energy Projects Rs 25 billion, Karachi Urban Infrastructure Development Rs 12 billion, CSR-2024 Cost Impact Rs 15 billion, SDG-Aligned Development Rs 45 billion, Divisional HQ City Uplift Rs 7.5 billion. Shah said that Sindh started off with an ADP size reached Rs. 595 billion based on departmental demands, however, due to anticipated shortfall in federal transfers, Sindh Government rationalized the ADP down to Rs. 520 billion, marking a 20 percent reduction. Therefore, only 475 new schemes have been proposed in ADP FY26, linked to high-priority areas, including Flood rehabilitation, Renewable energy, Development in 5 less-developed districts, Uplift of divisional headquarters, Clean water and sanitation. A focused increase of 20 percent has been proposed for social and productive sectors, while allocations for other departments have remained constant. The budget allocations for major sectors for next financial year are Rs. 96.7 billion for Education sector, Rs. 45.4 billion for Health sector, Rs. 80.6 billion for Irrigation sector, Rs. 132.79 billion, for Agriculture, Rs. 155.2 billion for Energy sector, Rs. 11.25 billion for Livestock and Rs. 23.1 billion for Fisheries sectors. Under the development strategy, the Government of Sindh has decided to introduce a wide array of new initiatives across sectors that touch the lives of millions, from youth empowerment and healthcare access to climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy, and community development. Chief Minister said that the Government of Sindh has formulated ADP 2025-26, building upon the development landscape of the last FY25, whereby responding to both emerging challenges and strategic development priorities. The FY25 ADP was marked by fiscal consolidation, with a strong emphasis on post-flood reconstruction, completion of ongoing schemes, and protecting core development functions amidst cost escalations and constrained federal transfers. No new schemes were introduced in that fiscal year (FY25), reflecting the government's commitment to fiscal discipline and timely project completion. Under the Flood Recovery to Resilience, the government has initiative from infrastructure rehabilitation in FY25 to resilience-building investments in FY26, including renewable energy and water conservation systems. While 1,494 schemes are expected to be completed in FY25, some 475 schemes have been introduces in for FY26, carefully selected new schemes, supported by higher counterpart funding and policy alignment. Government of Sindh is pursuing a planned development process such that developmental activities continue even during the economic slowdown. It is because of this planning that the current fiscal year has witnessed the highest development expenditure ever. Chief Minister Sindh informed that last year Sindh raised its concerns regarding the Federal Government's unwillingness in disbursing the committed amount of Rs. 52.912 billion in Federal PSDP against 19 schemes in year 2024. However, due to strong intervention by the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Sindh Government have so far Rs. 41 billion against the committed amount this year. The revised estimates for FY25 for provincial development expenditure stand at Rs. 846.9 billion. It includes Rs. 392.7 billion for Provincial ADP, Rs. 55 billion for district ADP and Rs. 296.2 billion for Foreign Projects Assistance (FPA). For development expenditure Sindh government released Rs. 666 billion, out of which it is expected that approximately Rs. 590 billion will be utilized by the end of CFY. This year will mark the highest development expenditure ever in the fiscal history of the province and we will be able to complete more than 1400 development schemes, which again is the highest number ever. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
