Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation Ltd (PTCL) has announced a new wireless broadband service for its subscribers in Karachi from February 22. Addressing a luncheon meeting with the members of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), the Executive Vice President PTCL Abdul Baseer said that the new service would be called Evolution Data Optimisation (EVDO) and provide better and fast DSL service to its subscribers.
He informed that there is no consideration to declare local call free. He said that PTCL's revenue has dropped to almost half from Rs 36 billion during last fiscal year. He said that this was due to the de-regularisation policy of the government. He said that PTCL would also announce some new packages to its subscribers very soon.
Baseer said that PTCL has funds available in millions of rupees for the repair of 3 million cables in the city and to improve its infrastructure in Karachi but the permission for digging up portions of the roads from the City District Government (CDGK) is yet to be accorded. He assured that as soon as CDGK gives permission work would be started.
Replying to the demand by the Kati chief Mian Zahid Husain, he said that PTCL would soon set up a special cell at the Kati premises to resolve problems of the Kati members at a fast track. He said that the PTCL always considers to solve business community's problems on priority basis and would welcome all the suggestions in this regard. He said that the huge number of employees is the biggest burden on PTCL but the corporation is not considering any downsizing at this point.
Earlier Chairman Kati Mian Zahid Husain in his welcome address suggested the PTCL to set up a special cell at the Kati premises to address day-to-day complaints of the Kati industrialists. He further proposed that a performance report of this cell should also be submitted to him on weekly basis. He offered every possible help from Kati in this regard.
He said that Korangi industrial area is contributing Rs 270 million per day to the national exchequer and telecommunications plays a major role in the business activities and due to the reason industrialists are in dire need of uninterrupted telecommunications facilities especially DSL. He said that PTCL should provide fax and desired number facility in its V-phone service. The Parton in chief, Kati, S M Muneer in his address, said that the country's economy would remain in crisis during entire 2009 fiscal year.
He said that PTCL was the only privatised corporation which has improved its performance during last year. He, however said there is something wrong in the PTCL at the lower level which should be looked into. He pointed out that PTCL contractors leave dug up streets unattended due to which the industrialists have to face difficulties. Chairman, PTCL Committee Kati, Shahid Qureshi also spoke on the occasion.-PR