Senate committee seeks detailed records on Starlink, Jazz tariffs, connectivity, LDI/FLL cases and other telecom-sector issues.
ISLAMABAD, September 14, 2026: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has deferred consideration of the Starlink licensing issue after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed lawmakers that no licence application from the satellite internet company was currently pending before the regulator.
The committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, was briefed that all Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network operators must comply with conditions prescribed under Pakistani law before obtaining an operating licence.
The PTA clarified that its licence covers operations and said there would be no impediment to licensing once all legal and regulatory requirements had been fulfilled.
The committee met at Parliament Lodges in Islamabad to review a range of telecom-sector matters, including satellite communications, LDI/FLL court cases, Pak Datacom, network connectivity and audit objections relating to telecom tariffs.
The meeting was attended by Senator Kamran Murtaza, Senator Pervaiz Rashid and Senator Saadia Abbasi.
Jazz tariff audit objection discussed
The committee examined an audit objection concerning an alleged Rs6.58 billion excess collection by Jazz following a quarterly 15 percent increase in mobile package tariffs.
The Director General Audit told the committee that the initial proposal had envisaged a three percent increase, whereas the approved increase was 15 percent. Federal Audit also raised concerns over the PTA policy allowing telecom operators to increase tariffs by up to 15 percent.
The PTA, however, maintained that all prescribed procedures had been followed and said the amount involved stood at approximately Rs920 million after reconciliation.
Committee members expressed serious reservations about both the tariff increase mechanism and what they described as potentially exaggerated audit objections.
The committee was informed that the matter would proceed through the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) and subsequently the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The chairperson directed the relevant authorities to provide the complete record so the claims made by Audit and the PTA could be verified. She also directed the Director Finance and Deputy Director who signed the relevant documents to attend the next committee meeting.
Internet connectivity remains a concern
Senator Saadia Abbasi, convenor of the sub-committee, presented a report on internet connectivity and the reported disappearance of diesel from telecom towers across Pakistan.
The committee was informed that network disruption remained an issue and that the Prime Minister had constituted a committee to ensure network availability and minimise the impact of load-shedding on internet and mobile services.
The Senate committee adopted the sub-committee’s report.
The Chairman PTA attributed some continuing connectivity problems to the Ufone-Telenor merger process and the rollout of 5G services.
He assured lawmakers that the connectivity issues would be addressed by October 2026.
Ufone name change under review
The committee also discussed reports concerning a possible change in Ufone’s name following its merger with Telenor.
The PTA told the committee that any name change would be made in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and after obtaining the required approvals from the federal government.
Officials said consultations among the relevant stakeholders were currently under way.