Despite deliberations for more than a year by the National Assembly IT committee, the Ministry of IT has failed to amend the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996, due to the influential lobby involved in the grey trafficking.
Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Dr. Muhammad Yasin on Monday while briefing the NA IT committee said that he was receiving life threats as PTA was trying to combat the grey trafficking in the country. He said that due to the absence of the law against grey trafficking, the culprits easily get freedom from the courts. He refused to accept that PTA staff is involved in the activity. He told the media after the committee meeting that the government is facing $ 60 million annual loss due to grey telephony traffic. He told that total International Incoming Traffic is 923 Million Minutes whereas around 250 Million Minutes are estimated Grey-Traffic/not-reported which results into loss of around $ 3-5 Million to Universal service Fund (USF). He told that since 2009 PTA has conducted 44 raids with assistance of FIA against which 53 persons (including six foreigners) were apprehended and 444 Internet Gateways were unearthed.
Secretary IT Saeed Ahmad Khan told the committee members that he would submit the report before the committee after taking the input of all the stakeholders till October 31 next month.
He said that grey telephony traffic is a worldwide phenomenon and ministry of IT is working to eliminate it from the country. He said prior to the feedback from all the stakeholders ministry is not in a position to comment on the issue.
PML (LM) member of NA, Humayun Saifuilah Khan while discussing a Private Member Bill, “The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Amendment Bill, 2010” said that these amendments will help to achieve balance between ensuring the development of the telecommunications sector and securing the inflow of foreign exchange revenues to Pakistan from the legitimate routing of international telephony traffic to the Country by curbing Grey Telephony Traffic. PML (N) committee member, Anusha Rehman said that mafia is involved behind grey telephony traffic that is why despite more than one year, no progress has been done yet. Standing Committee Chairman Barjees Tahir expressed displeasure over the insufficient efforts made by PTA to control the Gray Telephony Traffic and said that next IT committee meeting should not be called until implementation on its recommendations. He said the IT Ministry is without a minister for the last three years which is affecting its performance. IT Standing Committee members unanimously condemned the threats given to the PTA chairman and recommended the government to give security to the Chairman.
