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Computerised '17' inquiry system launching delayed

KARACHI: The PTCL's fully computerised state-of-the-art "17" inquiry system in Karachi, which was to go into operation in December 1999, has been delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances.

It is likely to take couple of months to be operational, Irfan Ali Khan, PTCL Director General South (Sindh-Balochistan Region) told a radio press conference on Sunday.

He pointed out that the city has today about 0.9 million telephone lines out of which 0.775 million telephone connections have been given.

He said that Sindh-Balochistan region had one million telephone lines, out of which 0.9 million connections have been given.

Irfan said the existing "17" inquiry system was introduced in 1992 to meet the demand of 0.35 million telephone connections in Karachi at that time. But tremendous growth in the number of telephone connections has paralysed this system and, as such, it was decided to replace it with the most modern technology.

To a question he informed that in Karachi region at present 21,000 applications are lying pending for a telephone connection.

He said every month some 3,000 demands for telephone connections are registered and in most cases connections are provided when applied for.

However, in some cases where areas go "dry" the provision of a telephone connection takes some time for want of cable laying and development of infrastructure.

To a question he said previously the telephone directory which, too, has become volumenous, used to be printed by Pakistan Printing Corporation but its printing suffered due to problems caused by payment distribution. The matter, however, since been sorted out and the new directory is expected to be printed by April this year.

He said the department was given a proposal that if the "17" system is improved, need will not be left to print out a directory which at present costs Rs 200 to 225 million.

To another question, he informed that "18" complaint number has been replaced with a most modern Fault Management System (FMS) as a result of which the time taken in the rectification of a fault after its registration has been reduced to minimal as the system is monitored at the zonal level by respective directors.

He said in most cases telephone faults are removed immediately but problem is faced in cases where cable cutting is reported.

He explained that for provision of telephone connections in newly developed area, planning is carried out in a manner which may facilitate the laying of cables according to the estimated demand. But problems are faced when houses are demolished and high rise plazas constructed in the developed areas.

Irfan said in most cases complaints about excessive billing emanate because of misuse of telephone advertantly or inadvertantly.

He said that in Karachi at present only 0.175 million telephones working on analogue system have left out of which 0.155 million will be digitalised by June 2001. He said 81,000 analogue telephone connections will be digitalised by June 2000. APP