PTA Board: National Assembly panel for more representation of federating units

Sub-committee of the Standing Committee on Information Technology recommended the authorities concerned to give more representations to the federating units in Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Board under the 18th Amendments to make it more effective.
The committee met with convenor Anusha Rehman Khan in the chair here on Tuesday where "the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organisation) Amendment Bill, 2010 was moved by the Humayun Saifullah Khan, whereas "The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organisation) Amendment Bill, 2011 was moved by Khurram Jahangir Wattoo. The committee expressed displeasure over the delay in the amendments to these bills. The committee also expressed annoyance over the Secretary IT for holding the post of Chairman of Etisalat Board, saying that it should be determined whether the Secretary is protecting the interests of a foreign company or the government of Pakistan.
The committee in this regard issued directives to the Law Ministry to apprise the committee for proposing amendments within three days. The committee also resented the delay in the actions by the PTA to eradicate spam text messages from certain elements. Legislators said that authority has failed in controlling such evils and have not taken concrete steps for redressal of the menace hitherto.
The committee recommended the PTA officials to initiate a media campaign and educate the masses to inform the authority about the spam messages and PTA should ensure concrete steps to address their complaints. The committee recommended that it should be ensured that only five SIMs have been issued to a customer, however if he/she was found in violating the rules and sending spam messages time and again, the Authority should blacklist the CNIC of that person. He/she should not be issued any more SIMs, the committee recommended.
According to the bill moved by Saifullah Khan, the Authority shall be consisting of three executive members and five non-executive members. All members meeting qualification and experience criteria shall be apprised for a term of four years and shall be legible for re-appointment for a similar term. It further proposed that the federal government shall appoint three prominent professionals of integrity and repute as executive members under sub-section (2A), one of whom shall be the chairman of the authority.
These amendments will help to achieve a balance between ensuring the development of the telecommunications sector and securing the inflow of foreign exchange revenues to Pakistan from legitimate routing of international telephony traffic by curbing grey traffic. The amendments will also help eliminate any potential conflict of interests and to bring a higher degree of clarity in the existing legislation.