Govt in Talks With Starlink to Provide Internet to Pakistan: IT Minister

Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima on Thursday briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT & Telecom that efforts are underway to negotiate with Starlink to improve internet access for citizens. She revealed this while providing an update on the current status of internet services, monitoring practices, and digital connectivity challenges. She acknowledged the subpar state of Pakistan’s internet infrastructure and admitted that even the best services fall short of expectations. In response to criticism regarding internet outages, the minister questioned how billions of dollars in IT exports could still be achieved if the internet were completely shut down. She said the government’s role is to ensure monitoring where necessary but clarified that unwarranted surveillance is not acceptable. The minister refuted claims made by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) regarding financial losses from internet disruptions and called their $8 billion loss figure as incorrect. She urged critics to avoid spreading misinformation. The discussion became tense when committee members started voicing their frustrations. One member suggested holding a joint press conference with industry representatives to align narratives, while another highlighted the struggles faced by freelancers during internet shutdowns. Chairman Committee Syed Aminul Haq reiterated the need for consistent internet service. He said the internet should never be shut down and a permanent solution should be achieved as soon as possible.