Senate's Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, convened today to discuss key issues concerning the industry.
During the meeting, Pasha Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed expressed strong reservations about the government's VPN policy, highlighting the adverse impact on the IT sector.
"An hour of internet downtime results in a loss of $910,000 for the IT industry," he stated, stressing the critical nature of reliable internet access for the sector's growth.
Senator Palwisha Khan raised concerns over the actions of the Ministry of IT, criticizing the tendency to shift responsibility to the Ministry of Interior. "I don’t understand why we even have a Ministry of IT if this is how things are managed," she remarked.
Secretary of IT, while addressing the committee, assured that efforts are underway to balance national security concerns with minimal disruption to the IT industry.
"We are striving to meet national security requirements while ensuring the least impact on the IT sector," he added.
The discussion highlighted the need for a more strategic approach to policy-making, ensuring both national security and the thriving growth of Pakistan's IT industry.
