The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) briefed the Senate committee on the alarming issue of nationwide data leaks.
The PTA chairman, Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman, confirmed that the leaked data is available on the dark web. He stressed the need for a detailed investigation to identify the exact source. According to him, the PTA had already carried out an internal inquiry in 2022. The Ministry of Interior has now started its own probe into the matter.
Senator Afnan Ullah said that data is stolen from various institutions, later compiled, and sold in bulk. He described it as an organized business worth billions of rupees.
The committee chairperson shared a personal incident to highlight the severity of the issue. She said fraudsters contacted her regarding a pending bank payment, a fact only the bank should have known. The chairperson asked how such sensitive details were being shared with criminals.
The PTA chairman clarified that no telecom data had surfaced on the dark web in the past two years. However, he emphasized the urgent need for a national system to protect citizens’ data.
Calls for Strong Data Protection Law
Senator Afnan Ullah said Pakistan’s inability to secure data is a national failure. He asked why the Ministry of IT had not introduced a data protection bill. Officials from the ministry replied that a draft bill is ready and consultations with stakeholders are in progress.
Senator Afnan Ullah warned that without a proper law, data theft will continue. He said the country could face serious consequences if legislation is delayed. He pointed to Israel’s attack on Iran, claiming that critical information was gathered through social media. He further alleged that Pakistan faces external pressure not to pass a strong data protection law.
The committee chairperson criticized the Ministry of IT, calling its delay a clear failure. Senator Manzoor Ahmed questioned the absence of Federal Minister Shaza Fatima from committee meetings. The members expressed anger over her repeated absence.
During the session, the PTA chairman revealed that data of nearly 300,000 Hajj applicants had been leaked online. He later confirmed that around 350,000 people were affected. He called the breach a “serious issue” and urged the government to act immediately.
Senator Afnan Ullah proposed setting up a national data center with advanced security. However, Senator Palwasha Khan questioned whether the newly formed NCCIA could handle such a critical responsibility.
The committee also discussed whether data had been leaked from the Election Commission. Senator Afnan Ullah responded that voter data is already public.
The PTA chairman stressed once again that Pakistan must secure its digital information to prevent further breaches.