Senate body orders inspection of imported mobiles following Lebanon pager blasts

The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has issued directives to check all mobile devices being imported into Pakistan following the Lebanon pager blast incidents.

The decision was made during a committee meeting chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha.

During the meeting, the committee discussed a six-point agenda, which included a briefing on technology safeguards in the wake of a pager explosion in Lebanon.

Committee members expressed their concerns about preventing mobile phone-related incidents in Pakistan and ensuring that mobile devices are made safer for users.

In response to a question, officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology admitted that while there is no existing mechanism to check imported mobile phones, they do have the capability to inspect locally manufactured devices.

Senator Afnan Ullah suggested that mobile phone manufacturing should take place in China or another friendly country.

Referring to the incident in Lebanon, he explained that a 20-gram explosive, similar to dynamite, was concealed in the pager, which had an impact comparable to a bullet. He warned that similar technology could potentially be used in mobile phones.

Senator Kamil Ali Agha highlighted that although mobile phones are assembled in Pakistan, high-end phones are still not produced locally.

The committee instructed that all mobile devices entering Pakistan should be thoroughly inspected and standardized for safety.

In response, the Ministry of Science and Technology assured the committee that they would work on the matter and submit a report within the next four months.