Ufone-Telenor merger expected to be completed in two weeks, CCP tells Senate committee

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications was informed on Friday that the merger of Ufone and Telenor is in its final stages and expected to be completed within two weeks, following an 18-month delay due to pending data submissions. 

Officials from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) stated that all required approvals were nearly complete, and finalisation is expected within two weeks. PTA Chairman Rehman noted that until the merger concludes, the auction of 5G spectrum cannot proceed. 

Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal confirmed that digital transition plans for salaries, pensions, taxes, and utility bills will continue in parallel.

The panel also discussed rising concerns over data protection, dark web leaks, and disruptions in Pakistan’s internet connectivity caused by damaged submarine cables off the coast of Yemen.

The committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan at the Parliament House, was also briefed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman. He confirmed that data of Pakistani citizens frequently appears on the dark web, including a leak affecting around 300,000 Hajj applicants. 

“This requires a high-level investigation,” he said, adding that a 2022 inquiry has now been taken over by the Interior Ministry.

Senator Afnanullah of the PML-N highlighted that the government faces external pressure not to enact laws securing citizens’ data. “If no law is made, the country will continue to suffer massive losses. Data theft is already a billion-rupee black market,” he said. 

Committee members expressed concern over the delayed Data Protection Bill, which is still under stakeholder consultation, and emphasized the need for urgent legislation to prevent further breaches.

The committee also raised questions over the perks received by board members of state-run telecom companies, with Senator Kamran Murtaza noting that members reportedly receive $5,000 per meeting and foreign trips. The chairperson stressed transparency and public accountability in board appointments at PTCL and Ufone.

The Ministry of IT informed the panel about internet slowdowns in Pakistan due to multiple submarine cables being cut near Yemen. IT and Telecom Secretary Zarrar Hashim Khan explained that two of the main cables supplying Pakistan were affected, forcing telecom companies to divert bandwidth to alternative routes. Full restoration is expected to take four to five weeks.

New submarine cables linking Pakistan directly with Europe are planned to become operational within 12 to 18 months, but committee member Sadiq Memon questioned why connectivity issues persist despite these projects. 

The secretary clarified that repeated cuts off Yemen had created a serious situation, highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to external disruptions.