Islamabad will not be getting blanket free Wi-Fi coverage, Federal IT and Telecommunications Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja clarified during a recent Senate panel briefing.
While addressing the Senate Standing Committee on IT, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, the minister stated that although unrestricted internet access throughout the city isn’t on the cards, the government does plan to install limited free Wi-Fi zones at specific public points like metro stations later this year.
Responding to the committee’s earlier recommendation to offer complimentary internet services on metro buses, Shaza Fatima avoided giving any definite assurance.
She explained that providing open Wi-Fi citywide could harm the business models of telecom service providers, making the proposal unviable.
The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand fiber optic infrastructure, targeting key sites such as educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and parliamentary buildings including Parliament House and Parliament Lodges.
The session wasn’t without controversy. A lively exchange broke out over the Ministry’s decision to re-shortlist Syed Jawad for the vacant post of Director General International Coordination. Several committee members voiced concerns over fairness in the recruitment process, pushing Chairperson Palwasha Khan to demand clarity over the selection criteria.
Defending her ministry, Shaza Fatima assured the committee that the process was free from any personal bias.
Another topic of discussion was the recently launched ChatGPT-inspired AI tool named “Zehanath AI.” The minister emphasized that this innovation was developed independently by the private sector, with the government’s involvement limited to participation in a joint press conference.
Additionally, the agenda item regarding cryptocurrency regulations was postponed, as the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant, Bilal Bin Saqib, was not present. The committee has now directed officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to attend the next meeting for further deliberations.
