The National Assembly was informed on Monday that within a short span of its commercial launch, broadband subscribers have crossed 26 million while broadband penetration has gone up from less than three per cent to over 15 per cent.
Minister of State for IT and Telecomm Anusha Rahman told the House during question hour that telecomm sector investments including proceeds from spectrum auction have crossed $2.668 billion.
She said that the IT exports have risen by 41 per cent during the last financial year as compared to the previous year. She said that software development is gaining significant momentum and will soon get the status of a sub-sector within the IT sector.
Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid told the House that a process has been initiated to prepare the Climate Change Adaptation Plan in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme.
He said a three-year study is being launched which would need to take stock of of all greenhouse gas emissions in the country with options for mitigation and adaptation actions.
To a supplementary question, he said studies indicate glaciers are melting at the Hindukush mountain range while there are conflicting reports about melting of glaciers on Karakoram range. He said that international experts are being approached for authentic studies on the issue.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid informed the House that in all 10,482 advertisements of the government were published during the current financial year.
Replying to a calling attention notice, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Maryam Aurangzeb told the House that an integrated border management system is to be introduced at Torkham soon to check against illegal movements.
She said that Pakistan Land Port Authority would also be part of the integrated management system. She said a memorandum of understanding would be signed with Afghanistan to regulate movement at Torkham border.
