Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Oct 01, 2025
While mobile service and internet shutdowns have gravely disrupted everyday life in Balochistan, the government has rejected the impression that mobile network and internet coverage remained poor and insufficient in most areas of Balochistan over the past three years.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) conducts regular Quality of Service (QoS) surveys to identify and rectify service shortcomings, noted the Minister in charge of the Cabinet Division.
The data revealed that 23 surveys were conducted in Balochistan, including nine surveys planned in 2022-23, eight carried out in 2024, and two of the four scheduled surveys completed so far in 2025. These surveys were meant to pinpoint improvement areas in various cities.
As some regions of Balochistan showed unsatisfactory performance, as per the data, the PTA shared these results with mobile operators to ensure swift resolution.
Areas that lacked adequate service were referred to the Universal Service Fund (USF) for the betterment of infrastructure.
The minister explained that poor service quality results from various factors, including limited spectrum, inadequate infrastructure, Right of Way (RoW) issues, and rising demand.
In light of severe connectivity blackouts, over 700 new sites have been installed in the region, with mobile operators required to expand 3% coverage annually.
These efforts are believed to improve connectivity in Balochistan.
