Ministry of Information Technology (IT) on Tuesday solely held Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) responsible for non-implementation of International Clearing House (ICH) policy, which resulted in increasing grey trafficking in the country.
A follow-up meeting regarding monitoring of Grey Traffic under ICH arrangements was held here in Ministry of Information Technology with Secretary IT Kamran Ali Qureshi in the chair here on Tuesday. Secretary IT apprised the meeting that Grey Traffic has increased considerably and measures should be taken for its control at the earliest. Briefing the participants Member Telecom informed that prior to establishment of International Clearing House Exchange, grey traffic was monitored by PTA. Ministry of IT in its various policy directives had directed PTA from time to time to control grey traffic effectively, but all in vain.
The ICH policy was introduced by the previous government due to the inefficiency and incapacity of PTA to control Grey Traffic and procurement of monitoring equipment was to be made under the said policy, said Member Telecom, adding that unfortunately PTA due to a lack of internal co-ordination and commitment did not implement ICH policy in its true letter and spirit.
It may be recalled that a high-level meeting chaired by Secretary (IT) was also convened two weeks ago at MoIT, in which all the stakeholders including PTA, LEA and ICH consortium participated. It was mutually agreed in that meeting that monitoring equipment will be installed at ICH and its interface will be provided at a suitable place designed by MoIT for joint operation of PTA and Security Agencies under the supervision of MoIT. It was further agreed in the meeting that a committee, under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary (IT) will oversee the monitoring of operating system. This committee would comprise two representatives each from PTA, Security Agencies and MoIT. Upgradation of the system was also made the responsibility of this committee.
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