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CE directs PTCL to reduce losses

T A MALIK

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) to take strict measures to reduce revenue losses and provide Information Technology, Internet and Electronic Commerce facilities throughout the country.

He said this while chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Telecommunications (CCoT) here on Friday.

He stressed the need for implementing austerity measures under a systematic and phased programme and not in a whimsical manner, which had often proven counter-productive in the past.

Sources said that the meeting also directed the PTCL to prepare list of its corrupt officials and submit it to the authorities for action.

The management was asked to provide modern facilities of communication to the common man at cheaper rates and improve the services to facilitate the customers.

The committee was informed that 100 percent digitalisation of the telephone network in the country would be completed within the next two years through the replacement of about 500,000 analogue telephone lines.

The committee was informed also informed that the PTCL was also taking steps to keep Information Technology rates competitive.

Secretary Communication Dr Akram Sheikh gave a detailed presentation to the meeting.

They were apprised of the cost of reduction measures and initiatives to control revenue leakage's, including action being taken against illegal operators, misuse of PTCL trunk calls facilities, clandestine Public Call Offices.

The CCoT reviewed the performance of each telecom entity, including the implementation status of the National Security Council and Cabinet decisions.

The goal set for the telecom sector include, transparent and consistent policies, orderly growth of the sector, minimising wastages, maximising efficiency, integrated with a customer driven approach and enhancing shareholder value.

Short-and medium-term development operational plans, priorities of projects and strategies for implementation were also discussed.