The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT & Telecom was informed that Starlink is expected to launch in Pakistan within six months.
Parliamentary Secretary for IT and Telecom Sabeen Ghauri stated that Starlink applied for a license in 2022, but delays occurred due to a lack of regulatory framework. She estimated final approvals could take a few more months.
PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman reported that 90% of discussions between Starlink and the Space Regulatory Authority are complete.
He added that another satellite company has also applied for a license. The committee criticized bureaucratic delays and urged authorities to speed up Starlink’s approval process. A committee member stressed the importance of data protection before granting the license.
The PTA Chairman highlighted that the regulator has contributed Rs. 1,700 billion in revenue over six years, while the government has not invested in the telecom sector.
He pointed out that India has invested $13 billion in connectivity, whereas Pakistan has spent nothing on fiberization. Despite this, he assured that a fiberization policy is in progress, and 2,000 telecom towers were installed last year under a broader plan.
