Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication was held at the Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges, under the Chairmanship of Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan.
The Ministry reported that 23 PSDP projects are currently ongoing, with 11 has been completed. The total cost of these projects is Rs. 97,119.680 million. For FY 2024–25, an allocation of Rs. 21,429.000 million was made. However, after surrender and re-appropriation, the final budget stands at Rs. 8,589.222 million.
The Committee also addressed delays in the Karachi IT Park project. The Ministry explained that the project, funded through Korean assistance, was initially delayed due to regional tensions between India and Pakistan, which raised risk concerns for the Korean partner company. As a result, construction was temporarily halted. The Ministry confirmed that the bidding process has since been re-advertised, and several Korean companies have been invited to submit bids. Coordination is ongoing with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in this regard.
In addition, the Committee discussed the recruitment process for the position of Director General (International Coordination). The Ministry stated that out of approximately 1,400 applicants, only seven were shortlisted. However, the Committee expressed concern that none of the shortlisted candidates were found competitive enough—except for the former DG, who was eventually reappointed. The Ministry emphasized that the selection process was based on strict criteria, including relevant qualifications and government experience. However the Committee was not satisfied with the overall process of recruitment. Committee members raised concerns that excessive emphasis on prior government experience may unfairly disadvantage the private sector candidates. After deliberations, the Chairperson directed the Ministry to submit application forms of the last shortlisting of candidates so the Committee can review the rejection criteria and ensure transparency and fairness in the recruitment process.
Furthermore, the Ministry briefed on the Smart Islamabad Project, stating that the initiative aims to provide fiber connectivity to key public service institutions, including schools, hospitals, police stations, and metro facilities. The Ministry’s spokesperson added that the project will be implemented in collaboration with private sector partners to reduce the financial burden on the government.
Senator Manzoor Ahmed raised a pertinent question regarding data on the number of students and professionals from Balochistan who have gone abroad for IT-related education or employment. The Ministry’s spokesperson acknowledged the significance of the inquiry and described it as a constructive suggestion. He assured the Committee that a detailed survey would be conducted, and a comprehensive report would be shared with the Committee.
The meeting was attended by Senators Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Dr Afnan Ullah Khan, Dr Mohammed Humayun Mohammed, Manzoor Ahmed, Syed Kazim Ali Shah, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyzee, Gurdeep Singh, Pervaiz Ahmed and senior management from the Ministry/relevant departments.