Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) contributed Rs 474 million to national kitty on account of annual fee and royalty payable on licenses during the financial year 2002-2003.
The total income during the period was Rs 645 million against an expenditure of Rs 157 million resulting into an excess of Rs 488 million.
According to PTA's annual report 2002-2003, due to effective collection, the license fee receivable was reduced to Rs 118 million compared with Rs 277 million as of June 30, 2002.
PTA has undertaken an extensive exercise to overhaul the accounting set up to develop a reliable system for maintaining correct and adequate underlying records.
This effort has succeeded to a large extent and the accounts for period ended June 30, 2003 contain no observation of auditors.
The overall accounting and management set up of PTA is still under structural changes to further streamline it to achieve better performance, the report said.
Accounting has already been computerised and new Oracle based software has been developed.
This step alone will go a long way to inculcate a sense of self-improvement in PTA.
The report further said during the period, the Authority issued 80 licenses for different value added services to promote telecommunication section in the country.
Out of total, 56 licenses were issued for card pay phone services, 15 for electronic information services and 9 for other services.
During the period, PTA also issued first ever license for the operation of video conferencing services, 22 HF/VHF/UHF private land mobile/fixed, 6 inmarsat/satellite phones and 12 amateur radio license.
Six satellite companies also registered themselves with PTA during the period, the report added.
The Authority conducted two surveys during the year to ascertain the quality of services of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) as well as of Internet Services Providers (ISPs).
As a result of these surveys, it was revealed that the quality of service particularly of the CMOs was not found at par with the international standards. Consequently, show-cause notices were issued to all the mobile phone operators.
M/s Mobilink, having the largest customer network, after providing them full opportunity to defend their case in an open hearing, was directed to compensate their customers to the extent of Rs 60 million for providing poor and substandard services.
The Authority also awarded GSM license to Special Communication Organisation (SCO) for the operation of mobile phone services in the remote and mountainous areas of AJK and Northern Areas.
PTA believes in the participatory approach and in this respect is taking major policy decisions to resolve the problems of stakeholders and the consumers.
During the period, several public forums and seminars were held on very crucial issues by involving consumers and other stakeholders which contributed in creating congenial atmosphere and taking rational policy decisions.
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