Balochistan & other areas: Senate body asks PTA, USF to improve telecom services

A parliamentary panel on Thursday expressed displeasure over absence of senior officials of the government of Balochistan from a meeting and directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Universal Service Fund (USF) to improve telecom services in areas identified by the senators. The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication met here under the chairmanship of Senator Taj Afridi.
The meeting discussed implementation status of the projects launched by the USF in Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the problems being faced by USF in those areas. Senator Usman Kakar pointed out the areas where telecom towers are installed but the coverage is weak and people are facing signal problems. He said that in the areas like Zhob, Loralai, Badini, Muslim Bagh and others, the people are facing serious problem of weak mobile signals.
He said that certain security problems have also erupted due to disputes with respect to installation of mobile towers in the particular areas. He further stated that the most of the issues are emerging because of the inefficiency or lack of interest of local administration as well as the telecom operators.
The chairman committee responding to the Kakar's point of view said that the information he has shared should be taken seriously by the USF officials and the PTA, adding they must update the committee about details after resolution of the problems in the aforesaid areas. The CEO USF briefed the committee that out of 5,600 kilometres, optical fibre has been laid in 4,500 kilometres area of Balochistan and 55 out of 75 tehsils have now been covered and more mobile towers are being installed.
He further informed the committee that in the areas like Awaran, Bisham, Kolu and Zhob, the projects are getting delayed in wake of law and order situation there. The committee also discussed environmental guidelines during laying the fibre and installing mobile towers. The committee recommended that authorities concerned should take serious steps in resolving those issues, which are being faced by different stakeholders.