Telecom sector: Senate panel expresses concern over governance issues

Serious concerns over governance and accountability in the telecom and digital sectors came under sharp scrutiny on Monday as the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology expressed alarm over hefty dollar-denominated fees paid to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) board members, ongoing corruption cases within the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and persistent weaknesses in national data security frameworks. Chaired by Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, the Committee was informed that PTCL board members receive up to USD 8,000 per board meeting, despite the company facing sustained financial pressures. Senators questioned how serving government officials could lawfully draw such payments, recalling that the Prime Minister had earlier directed that no public office holder should receive more than Rs 1 million in meeting-related remuneration and that any excess amount must be returned to the national exchequer.