Senator Afnanullah’s demand to make the permission of Starlink service subject to the pardon of Elon Musk

Senator Afnanullah Khan belonging to Muslim League-N demanded that the permission of Starlink to provide service in Pakistan should be conditional on the pardon of Elon Musk.

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology was held under the chairmanship of Senator Palusha Khan in which the satellite policy was discussed. Senator Anush Rehman said that according to PTA the satellite policy was given during the caretaker government.

Chairman PTA said that for provision of satellite internet service in Pakistan, first registration with SECP is necessary. Starlink had applied to the PTA on February 24, 2022, but the PTA referred the matter to the Ministry of Home Affairs for security clearance. The matter of Starlink is now with the new authority PASRB, after approval of which PTA will issue license to Starlink.

In the committee meeting, League member Afnanullah Khan said that we have no objection to any company’s business in Pakistan. Elon Musk recently campaigned against Pakistan on social media. Before issuing the license to PTA Starlink, Elon Also see Musk’s anti-Pakistan campaign. Elon Musk first apologized for what he said against Pakistanis.

Senator Anush Rehman said that Starlink has not come yet and Elon Musk’s anti-Pakistan campaign is going on.

Special Secretary IT said that security issues will be taken into consideration before allowing Starlink to operate in Pakistan, the new authority for provision of satellite services created under the SPD.

Briefing regarding Starlink, Chairman PTA said that the space policy was not worked on in Pakistan before, the National Space Policy was approved in 2023, the rules were approved after the approval of the space policy, the new regulatory under the policy. The body is made.

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He said that Starlink has applied for PTA license in February 2022, Starlink’s application has been sent to Ministry of IT for security clearance, the case is now with the new regulatory body, when the new space regulatory body approves. PTA will give license to Starlink, a Chinese company has also applied for satellite internet license in Pakistan.

Senator Afnanullah said that Elon Musk campaigned against Pakistan on social media, can any company that wants to do business in Pakistan do so, the British government dismissed Elon Musk’s allegations as false, Elon Musk should apologize first. , then the license should be considered.

The committee also expressed its displeasure over the non-appearance of the Secretary of the IT Ministry.

Senator Afnanullah said that the IT Ministry’s consultative meetings on the Data Protection Bill have not ended, my bill has been pending in this committee for three years, the cabinet has approved this bill.

The IT Ministry officials said that it was approved by the Cabinet in 2022, on which Senator Afnanullah said that the IT Ministry officials are not allowing us to work, I have completed all the consultations.

Senator Anush Rehman said that the Data Protection Act, 2016 is lying with the IT Ministry, the decision of the cabinet does not change with the change of government. IT Ministry officials said that you should hold a single point agenda meeting on this.