PTA chief vows to regularise cell phone services

Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Dr Muhammad Yaseen on Wednesday reiterated his commitment that the authority would not allow any person or company to violate PTA laws and it is making all possible efforts to regularise the services being provided by different cell phone operators.
He further said that PTA has recently started a drive against unverified SIMs and so far it has blocked 12.9 million unauthorised SIMs across the country.
He said this while talking to reporters after visiting different customer service centres of cell phone operators in the capital. He said that more than 17 million mobile phone subscribers have approached their prescribed service providers for inquiring about their SIMs record and 10 percent of them have visited service centres for correction of their SIMs record since the PTA launched SIM Information System 668.
Dr Yaseen added that PTA would also ask cell phone service provider to expand this facility for the people living in rural areas. He said that in view of the problems being faced by the mobile subscribers, selected franchises have also been allowed to only receive complaints regarding SIMs data from mobile users and correct their records, in case SIMs are issued without the knowledge of the subscriber.
During his visit to customer service centres he talked to some of the customers and asked them about problems relating to SIMs and the customers apprised him about their issues regarding correction of SIMs data. He also exchanged views with the staff and inquired about the procedures they were following to support the customers.
Dr Yaseen said that the newly launched service is working smoothly and the efforts made by PTA to correct data of mobile users and unauthorised SIMs are bearing fruit. It may be noted that PTA has recently introduced the 'SIM Information System - 668' which has enabled the mobile subscribers to know the total number of SIMs issued against their names with each mobile operator by sending their CNIC number to 668. PTA has also prepared a web-link on its website www.pta.gov.pk. Any subscriber from within or outside the country can also know number of SIMs issued against his/her CNIC through this link. Up-till now 200,000 Pakistanis from different countries have sought information through this link.