In Short: integrated telecom plan evolved for Northern Areas

An integrated plan has been formulated by the Special Communications Organisation (SCO) to extend modern and quick means of telecommunications to the people across Northern Areas (NAs), a spokesman said on May 29.
Under the plan the existing telephone numbers would be changed and all the districts in Northern Areas would get a new telephone code in the next few months, he said.
A latest modern billing system will be introduced at a cost of Rs 580 million within one and half years in the region to facilitate the people, the spokesman said. The spokesman said Pakistan had inked an agreement with China for laying a optical fibre line from Rawalpindi to Gilgit and then onto Khunjerab at a cost of Rs 490 million. China will lay the line to Khunjerab on their side, he said.