By Hasnain Ali
When even the federal capital struggles to get mobile signals, something is seriously wrong. Lawmakers are calling out Pakistan’s telecom authorities over what they describe as a worsening mobile signal crisis that’s affecting millions.
Parliament Members Criticize Telecom Performance
Members of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology criticized the poor state of mobile and internet services in the country.
They said it’s hard to appreciate “progress” in the Information Technology sector when consumers can’t even make a proper phone call or stay connected online. Scores of citizens, they added, are being deprived of a basic need — communication.
PTA Summoned to Explain Service Quality
After receiving several complaints about weak signals and slow internet, Committee Chairman Syed Amin Ul Haque directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) officials to appear in the next meeting and explain the reasons behind the problem.
Spectrum Shortage Behind Pakistan Mobile Network Issues
Federal IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja pointed out that the main issue is a shortage of available spectrum.
She said that Pakistan currently operates on only 274 MHz, which is leading to heavy congestion and service drops across networks.
She noted that building more towers won’t solve the issue unless additional spectrum is allocated.
Connectivity Problems Spread Beyond Rural Areas
This problem isn’t new as lawmakers have been raising concerns about poor mobile coverage for years — both in the National Assembly and the Senate.
What’s more worrying is that the issue isn’t limited to rural or remote areas. Even in Islamabad, people struggle with dropped calls and patchy mobile data despite subscribing to the costly packages.
Experts Call for Unified Effort to Improve Networks
Experts believe the country needs a joint effort from both regulators and telecom companies to fix long-standing issues, such as network outages and slow speeds.
Until that happens, millions of Pakistanis will continue to suffer from unreliable connectivity in an increasingly digital world.
Author Profile
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Hasnain Ali is a Pakistani journalist who writes on business, agriculture, and telecom issues with a focus on policy, innovation, and market trends.
His reporting highlights how economic shifts, digital connectivity, and agricultural reforms shape everyday life across Pakistan.
Known for his clear analysis and grounded storytelling, Hasnain aims to make complex economic topics accessible to general readers.
