Pakistan government has made a significant decision to enhance the confidentiality surrounding lawful interceptions conducted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom operators. This decision, approved by the federal cabinet, aims to maintain the secrecy of operations related to lawful interception.
The move comes after the IT & Telecom Division suggested the need for such measures to the federal government. During a recent cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the importance of maintaining confidentiality in all communications and information regarding lawful interceptions was emphasized.
The approved policy directives mandate the PTA to ensure that no unauthorized individuals have access to information about lawful interceptions. Additionally, the telecom regulator will issue new instructions to local operators and service providers to enforce these directives effectively.
These policy directives grant the PTA the authority to manage interception requests in accordance with the law. The approval from the federal cabinet, as required under the Rules of Business, 1973, underscores the importance of keeping all lawful interception information strictly confidential.
This decision reflects the government’s commitment to upholding legal procedures while safeguarding sensitive information related to national security and law enforcement.
