The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has finalised initial plan to host nine-day general assembly and management committee meetings of Asia-Pacific Tele-community (APT) to be held in November this year.
The APT represents 33 regular, four associate and 101 affiliate member countries. It would be a mega event and elevate the position of Pakistan among the world telecom community.
PTA Chairman Major General Shahzada Alam Malik in a telephonic interview from Geneva, where he is participating in the General Council 2005 session of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said, "It would give us unique opportunity to highlight development and expansion of telecommunication sector in Pakistan."
While explaining the role of Pakistan in the development of equitable information society, he said, "We are not only an integral part of the world tele-community, but also an active player as well."
He said, "We are a member of ITU and are regularly participating in its proceedings and activities and we had also participated in a World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) held in Geneva in December 2003.
Leaders of 175 countries, including Pakistan, had attended the said meeting and endorsed a declaration of principles and a plan of action of ICT access, he added.
To a question about regulator's role in the promotion of telecommunication industry in Pakistan, he said, "We have revolutionised the concept of telecommunication services industry in Pakistan. Opening up the sector and establishment of investor-friendly regime has lured world class telecom companies to come forward and establish their business in Pakistan."
The mobile phone sector of the country is growing at a fast pace. Out of six cellular mobile phone operators, five belonged to multinational groups, he said.