Data of Hajj applicants sold on Dark web: PTA chairman confirms

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s digital security nightmare sent shock waves as Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (r) Hafeezur Rehman, validated citizens’ sensitive personal information is being sold on the dark web.

PTA chief admitted that despite an internal inquiry carried out in 2022, the data leaks continue — so much so that the Ministry of Interior has now stepped in with its own investigation. “The problem is real, and the danger is growing,” he warned.

Senator Afnan Ullah queried the digital crisis in Pakistan, stating that pilfered data from various institutions is collated, packaged, and sold in bulk, a multi-million-dollar business.

The surprise was compounded by the fact that the committee’s own chairperson disclosed that the scammers telephoned her regarding an outstanding bank payment, something known only to the bank. “If it can happen to me, what hope does the average citizen have?” she seemed distraught to note.

In what was possibly the most chilling revelation of the session, the PTA chairman confirmed that information of almost 350,000 Hajj applicants had been leaked online. He termed it a “serious issue” and called for swift government action.

While he explained that no telecom data had been exposed in the past two years, he emphasized that Pakistan needs to create a national system urgently to protect its people from digital predators.

Senate reacted in outrage against the government’s delay in presenting a much-awaited data protection law. Senator Afnan Ullah termed the scenario a national failure and criticized the Ministry of IT for procrastination.

Representatives said a draft bill was in the works and under consultation. But senators were not impressed. Afnan Ullah threatened Pakistan with disastrous outcomes if there was not robust legislation, even referencing Israel’s cyberattack on Iran, saying it was propelled by intelligence gathered through social media.

The chairperson of the committee criticized the Ministry of IT for outright incompetence, while Senator Manzoor Ahmed excoriated Federal Minister Shaza Fatima for consistently missing key meetings.

In response to the crisis, Senator Afnan Ullah suggested establishing a national data center with advanced security. However, Senator Palwasha Khan questioned whether the newly established NCCIA was capable of handling such a sensitive task at all.

PTA chairman ended his briefing with a warning that, unless Pakistan acts quickly to secure its digital data, breaches will only intensify and put citizens and the state in danger.