Foreign satellite company: Senate panel concerned at transfer of govt data

According to Business Recorder, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication raised concerns on Monday about Pak Datacom moving government data to a UAE-based satellite company. Members also asked for details of roughly USD 800 million that Etisalat is reportedly owed over the privatisation of PTCL.

Lawmakers asked whether the necessary permissions were in place before the data was moved, and the chairperson wanted to know the reason for the shift. Officials said limited national spectrum capacity was the main driver and described YaSat as a UAE company with majority government ownership. The general manager of Pak Datacom told the panel that the transfer took place only after all concerned government bodies had granted approval.

The chairman voiced fears that holding sensitive official information with a foreign satellite firm could bring serious security hazards, and recommended an audit by the National Telecom and Information Security Board. The IT ministry's secretary cited a non-disclosure agreement that limits sharing of some details, and the panel also discussed the terminated staff cases, which remain sub judice before an NIRC bench.