Lawmakers Slam Mobile Companies Over Poor Internet Services Across Pakistan

Islamabad: Members of both the government and opposition strongly criticized mobile phone companies during the National Assembly’s question hour, voicing concerns over poor internet connectivity across the country.

MNA Paulin Baloch highlighted the severe lack of internet facilities in Balochistan, stating that large parts of the province remain without internet access. Lawmakers noted that students face serious difficulties in applying online for admissions and jobs due to weak connectivity.

Responding to the concerns, the Parliamentary Secretary informed the House that the existing spectrum of 273 megahertz is insufficient to meet internet speed requirements. He added that the auction of 600 megahertz spectrum is scheduled for next month, which is expected to double internet speeds once implemented.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, pointed out that mobile services often fail on major motorways, including the Islamabad–Lahore and Islamabad–Peshawar routes.

MNA Sanaullah Mastikhel further complained that there is no mobile service on the CPEC motorway and the Mianwali–Bhakkar MM Road, adding that internet connectivity remains poor even at Parliament Lodges, raising questions about service availability in remote areas such as Balochistan.

The Parliamentary Secretary stated that PKR 52 billion from the Universal Service Fund (USF) has been allocated for mobile and internet services in Balochistan, the highest allocation for any province.

However, MNA Paulin Baloch questioned why internet-related problems remain most severe in Balochistan despite receiving the largest funding.