National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Thursday discussed the calling attention notice moved by Omer Ayub Khan, ex-MNA, regarding the issues of Telephone Industries of Pakistan, Haripur. State Minister for Information Technology briefed the committee about the history of Telephone Industries of Pakistan and related challenges and issues.
The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Captain Mohammad Safdar (Retd), discussed the issue in detail and directed the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to take necessary steps pertaining to Telephone Industries of Pakistan along with stipulated time till August, 30 2016 ie to disconnect all utility connections of illegal occupants of the houses of Colony Board in Haripur, who were not paying their utility bills. Further, it has been directed that stern action be taken to vacate the houses of Colony Board from the illegal occupants.
Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication is yet to resolve the issue of an outstanding amount of Rs 274 million of Telephone Industries of Pakistan towards Technological Service Corporation (TSC) and National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) on account of their contribution share towards Telephone Industries of Pakistan schools and hospitals. Telephone Industries of Pakistan utilities were reportedly utilised by others while the bills were being paid by the Telephone Industries of Pakistan.
The Ministry was directed earlier to take concrete steps to bound Telephone Industries of Pakistan and NRTC to bear all financial expenses being incurred on schools, colleges and hospitals which were established on the land allocated to those entities respectively, however, the issue is yet to be resolved.
Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on IT also met with Shahi Syed in the chair here on Thursday. Chairman NTC Waqar Rasheed Khan said that the NTC is a Corporation and has its rules and regulations. The Organisation is making a Rs 359 million profit and taking no funds, grants budget from the government. The committee raised questions on the collection and utilisation of Universal Service Fund and directed for a briefing on the issue in the next meeting.
The committee also expressed anger over the absence of senior officials of the IT Ministry from the meeting and directed them to ensure their presence in the next meeting.
The committee underlined the need for greater national unity and unison to eliminate the menace of terrorism. The committee strongly condemned the Quetta blast. The chairman asked the quarters concerned to take stern action against the elements having soft corner for those carrying out subversive activities. Rehman Malik suggested strict punishment for those using stolen and snatched mobile phones and said he would propose a legislation in the Senate, accordingly. Shibli Faraz said that the political parties will have to shun the tendency of expediency and need to show courage to wipe out the menace of terrorism.
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