The Senate Standing Committee on IT & Telecom on Wednesday criticized SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, accusing him of taking an anti-Pakistan stance following his recent remarks about Starlink’s availability in the country.
Committee members alleged that Musk appeared to favor India over Pakistan by promoting a false narrative. One senator suggested making Starlink’s entry into Pakistan conditional on Musk issuing a public apology.
The Secretary for IT stated that Musk’s comments were misleading and clarified that there had been no direct discussions between SpaceX and Pakistan regarding Starlink’s operations.
Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman, explained that Starlink cannot obtain a license until it secures government security clearance. He assured the committee that Starlink would only operate in Pakistan if it complies with government regulations and routes its traffic through designated gateways. Additionally, he confirmed that Starlink has pledged not to bypass Pakistan’s internet infrastructure.
The PTA Chairman noted that a dedicated Space Regulatory Authority has been established to oversee satellite internet and low Earth orbit (LEO) services. The committee requested a comprehensive briefing from the authority in its next meeting to address Starlink’s licensing and other space policy concerns.
One senator raised questions about Starlink’s registration mechanism and the status of pending security clearances. She also criticized the IT Ministry for delegating certain responsibilities, such as those related to the PECA law, to the Interior Ministry.
