Tele-density use up by 37 percent in three years

No less than 37 percent rise in use of tele-density has been witnessed during the last three years. This was observed by Minister of State for Information Technology Ishaq Khan Khakwani, while addressing mediamen in the ITCN Asia 2007 at the Expo Centre here on Saturday.
Khakwani said during 2003-04, the tele-density was just three percent and now it had touched 40 percent, and added that 60 million people were using mobile phones and more than five million were enjoying the facilities of landline phones.
Each phone company had paid 391 million dollars to the government of Pakistan, he said, adding in the past, they were not paying to the government as the previous governments did not show any interest in this matter. "The situation now improved due to transparent policies of the present government," he added.
He announced that every city of the country would be linked through IT in a short period, which would be a great success. Replying to a question, he said the government was taking interest in launching of new projects, and disclosed that a new project would be launched within the next few months, which would be helpful to medical profession.
With launching of this project, doctors, working in far-flanged areas, would be facilitated with the latest IT technology and they could be able to seek tele-medicine advice from abroad, Khakwani said.
Now people could talk to their relatives outside the country for just two to three rupees instead of hundreds of rupees, which showed that the investors were taking interest in Pakistan, he said.
"This is possible because of competition among foreign investors," he said, and added that the government would encourage events like ITCN Asia anywhere in Pakistan. He said the government was aware about its responsibility and would be providing opportunities to the foreign investors.
Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director of Yaqoob Group of Companies Owais Yaqoob said that his company had 30 percent market share and planned to launch new brands.
Referring to the popularity of the company's brands, he said that sale and after sale services were being provided all over Pakistan for our brands. This type of events helped the investors to make decision for investment, he said.