Affected areas exempted from paying October phone bills

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) would not charge payment for month of October from domestic consumers in quake-hit areas. In addition, to facilitate people of the affected area, the phone utility has increased number of public call offices (PCOs) with free call facility, which was already operational at the calamity-hit areas.
According to PTCL spokesman, the due date for payment of September bills has also been extended by one month. People from abroad can also call on these numbers for latest information about their kith and kin; Mansehra: 0997-440302, 440305, Baffa: 0997-510789, Sohail Najaf Khan: 0097-360400, Shinkyari: 0097-530509, Battal: 0097-331022, Batgram: 0097-311000, Balakot 0997-501449, 0997-501775, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad 0977-383209, 0977-385478.
He said that the company has made special arrangements whereby all such phone calls would either be attended by the PTCL officials deputed on the spot or some volunteers who have been assigned the task.
In case, the staff deputed on duty does not have the required information, they would obtain the contact numbers of the callers and inform them after getting the required information.
The company has also provided nation-wide outgoing telephone facilities to the residents at many locations in affected areas.
People can simply go to a PTCL relief centre and make nation-wide call in order to inform their relatives about their condition.
PTCL has also opened an Account No 0111593-0 UBL Jinnah Avenue Islamabad, where donations can be made.
Besides, the company has also established relief camps throughout the country and made all arrangements for transportation of relief goods to the affected areas.
Two Toll Free Lines 0800-00023 & 0800-00024 have been activated at Prime Minister Secretariat for receiving phone and fax calls respectively in connection with relief activities.
In Azad Kashmir, PTCL has made special arrangements to augment relief efforts launched by the SCO, the company responsible for telephone network in Azad Kashmir.
The company has donated 50 sets of satellite phones worth Rs 4.4 million to Special Communication Organisation (SCO).
About 12,000 telephone lines were affected by earthquake in Mansehra, Batagram, Jareed, Naran and other areas, out of which over 10,000 have been restored. The restoration of the remaining lines is under way and as soon as the roads are cleared, PTCL staff would reach the sites and fix the phones. A PTCL team led by EVP (Operations) North is in Hazara Division for setting up more camps with free telecom facilities.