The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Hafeez-ur-Rehman, informed the Senate Committee that the Interior Ministry has not yet granted clearance for Elon Musk’s company Starlink, and upon being informed about the concerns, they agreed with the government’s policy.
A briefing on Starlink’s launch in Pakistan was held during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.
Chairman PTA Hafeez-ur-Rehman mentioned that Pakistan’s National Space Policy 2023 was introduced, followed by the establishment of the Pakistan Space Regulatory Board in 2024. This body will operate under the National Command Authority. The government likely intended to provide commercial protection to SUPARCO, which is why the regulatory body was created.
He added that any satellite wishing to provide service in Pakistan would first need to register with the ECC, then with the regulatory board, and finally apply for a license from PTA.
Anusha Rehman inquired about how the policy was made during the caretaker government’s tenure. Chairman PTA replied that Starlink applied for a license in February 2022, which was sent to the Interior Ministry for security clearance, but clearance has not been received yet.
He stated that Starlink will support business owners in remote areas. Once Starlink registers with the new regulatory board, PTA will issue the license. A Chinese company, Triple SD, is also planning to enter Pakistan, and other satellites may come too.
Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan mentioned that Elon Musk had launched a social media campaign against Pakistan, accusing Pakistanis. He suggested that any decision made should take Musk’s remarks into account.
Palwasha Khan expressed concerns over Elon Musk’s stance against Pakistan, which led to global embarrassment. She said they express their reservations about this issue.
Anusha Rehman raised concerns about the satellite launch, stating that it is being introduced under the leadership of someone with aggressive behavior like Elon Musk. She pointed out that there would be security and ethical issues. She asked about the regulatory authority that will manage the content.
Chairman PTA clarified that the regulatory body will make decisions after considering these aspects. The satellite will not operate directly, but Starlink will function through gateways on the ground.
He further assured that PTA has conveyed its concerns, and Starlink has agreed with the government’s policy. They will not bypass the system, and if the government asks to block data, they will comply. The issue of Starlink’s registration in Pakistan was raised again due to Elon Musk’s tweet.
The Additional Secretary of IT mentioned that space regulation is a technical matter, managed by SUPARCO. Anusha Rehman remarked that this should have been the responsibility of PTA, as the Ministry of IT had delegated the PICA responsibility to the Interior Ministry.
The committee decided to call SUPARCO and the regulatory authority for the next meeting.
