Elon Musk's Starlink, other Chinese firms likely to get approval in 6 months

• Aminul Haq pushes for Starlink to commence services in Pakistan.
• He also voiced concern over allocation of Rs6bn for Karachi IT Park.
• "These steps are necessary to connect with digital world," he adds.
  

ISLAMABAD: The permission for tech billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink, along with several other Chinese companies, to operate in Pakistan is anticipated within six months, said Sabeen Ghaurim, the Parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, on Tuesday.

Her remarks came during a meeting to discuss Starlink's operations in Pakistan as she responded to concerns raised by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, member of National Assembly's Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, regarding the delays in granting approval to the satellite internet service, The News reported.

Meanwhile, committee chairman Aminul Haq emphasised the urgency of expediting the proceedings to allow Starlink to commence its services in the country.

However, the committee expressed its dismay at the sluggish pace of digitasation efforts, particularly in the establishment of IT parks.

Additionally, Amin voiced concern over the allocation of Rs6 billion for the Karachi IT Park — which remains unspent this fiscal year — and over the delays affecting the Personal Data Protection Bill and the development of an AI policy.

During a briefing, the committee was informed that the IT ministry's Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), and its affiliated institutions, had been allocated Rs24 billion so far for this purpose in the current financial year. 

The committee members made reservations about the broadband services of the Special Communication Organisation (SCO) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. 

Amin directed the IT ministry to complete all proceedings regarding the improvement of broadband services in AJK and GB and immediately complete the fiberisation policy besides a proposal to grant government fund to the Universal Service Fund (USF), finalisation of matters related to Starlink, and establishment of a telecom tribunal. 

The committee agreed not to give any concession to Long Distance and International (LDI) license companies in the recovery of Rs78 billion dues and agreed to activate the telecom tribunal to resolve the matter.

Furthermore, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman informed the committee that in the last six years, Rs1,700 billion had been deposited in the national treasury by telecom companies in the form of tax, but not a single rupee had been spent by the government on improving the network situation in the country.

On the suggestion of the committee members, Amin directed the ministry to submit proposals for the release of separate grants from the federal government to the USF, which gets one-and-a-half per cent share from the revenue of telecom companies, so that the prime minister can be approached in this regard.

He emphasised that telecom companies invested in urban areas to provide their services, but government grants for the USF were essential for broadband service delivery and laying optical fibre cables in remote areas. 

If the company has adequate funds, the process of broadband services and fiberisation across the country will be completed quickly, which will provide better services to the common people.

On the other hand, the dream of digitisation of the government will be fulfilled, and it will be easier to achieve IT export targets. 

"These steps are necessary to connect with the digital world and adjust ourselves to the pace of technology," added Amin.