Mobile and fixed landline companies have been directed to improve the quality of their services in addition to increasing number of their subscribers, said Shahzada Alam Malik Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Addressing a meeting in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he said that PTA has so far deposited Rs 80 billion in national exchequer while efforts have been further expedited to attract maximum foreign investment in telecom sector.
He said that there was only 212-sale site growth in 2000, which has now jumped to 10,390 in 2007. He said that there are only 25 percent uncovered localities in Pakistan and we are promoting wireless phone companies to expand their network in these areas.
He said that Pakistan has become first country in this region, which has been providing GMS services. "We are also working on tower sharing project in Pakistan," he said and added that steps are being taken to extend mobile phone services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other inaccessible hilly tracts of northern areas.
Earlier, Muhammad Ayub Sabir President FCCI in his address of welcome appreciated the expansion of telecom network in Pakistan but stressed the need for improving the quality of services provided by the telephone companies. Later, Sheikh Khalid Habib former President FCCI presented a memento of Chamber to Shahzada Alam Malik.