A National Assembly committee has told telecom operators to improve their services immediately, saying there should be no compromise on the quality of service. At its meeting on 3 November 2026, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom expressed serious concern over poor internet quality across the country, with members saying WhatsApp calls drop even in Islamabad.
What the Committee Complained About
The committee, chaired by Syed Aminul Haque, said internet services remained unsatisfactory in several districts, and that major cities including Karachi and Islamabad were also facing connectivity problems. Members said internet services in smaller cities and remote districts were almost non-existent in some areas.
Committee member Ahmed Ateeq said networks were not functioning from his constituency to Karachi, and that discussions had continued for two and a half years without a meaningful solution. Another member said 4G had stopped working properly after 5G services launched, while a third said 3G did not even function in Thatta. One member summed up the mood by noting that WhatsApp calls drop even in Islamabad — and if service fails in the capital, rural areas face far worse conditions.
What PTA Told the Committee
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez ur Rehman told the committee that the authority had identified problems through surveys in different areas and had engaged operators to fix them. Operators were directed to improve their Quality of Service within three months wherever deficiencies were found, and if later surveys showed no improvement, show-cause notices were issued.
The PTA chairman said five show-cause notices had been issued to telecom operators over the past three months. He added that issuing show-cause notices remains the regulator’s last resort, partly because companies obtain court injunctions against fines — a point that also came up in the committee’s discussion of fine recovery.
Why PTA Blames Power Outages
The PTA chairman identified prolonged power outages as a major factor affecting telecom services. He said load-shedding in rural areas, where electricity remained unavailable for 12 to 16 hours a day, affected the functioning of telecom towers and disrupted internet connectivity for the public.
IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja acknowledged the members’ frustration as entirely valid, while saying telecom services were gradually improving, and invited committee members to submit formal policy recommendations. She also pointed out that even the United States lacks telecom coverage on motorways and highways, a comment aimed at tempering expectations around rural connectivity.
What Is Being Done on 5G
On infrastructure, the PTA chairman said work on upgrading existing networks had progressed following the 5G spectrum auction. He told the committee that around 70 per cent of 5G services in Karachi had been rolled out, and about 2,300 telecom towers had been upgraded to support 5G technology. Infrastructure development and spectrum-related issues were being carried out in phases, he said, expressing confidence that these measures would improve service quality in the long run.
The committee closed the session with a firm directive: all telecom companies must improve their services immediately, with no compromise on quality.
NA Committee Poor Internet Quality FAQs
When did the NA committee discuss poor internet quality?
At its meeting on 3 November 2026, chaired by Syed Aminul Haque.
What did members complain about?
Poor internet quality across the country, including WhatsApp call drops even in Islamabad, weak service in smaller cities and remote districts, and 4G problems since the 5G launch.
How many show-cause notices has PTA issued recently?
Five show-cause notices to telecom operators over the past three months, according to the PTA chairman.
Why does PTA blame power outages?
PTA says load-shedding of 12 to 16 hours a day in rural areas stops telecom towers from working properly, which disrupts internet connectivity.
What did the committee order operators to do?
Improve their services immediately, with no compromise on the quality of service.
How much 5G rollout has happened in Karachi?
PTA told the committee that around 70 per cent of 5G services in Karachi had been rolled out, with about 2,300 towers upgraded to support 5G.
Conclusion
The 3 November committee session shows how far the gap remains between official rollout claims and everyday experience: 5G towers are being upgraded, yet WhatsApp calls still drop in the capital. The committee’s order is clear — improve service quality immediately — but whether the three-month improvement window and show-cause notices change anything on the ground will only be clear when PTA’s next surveys come back.
