Telecom News Bulletin

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a special program to promote information and communication technologies (ICT) in Pakistan. In this context, was a ceremony at the headquarters of the PTA, Islamabad, which occurred in the IT adviser to the prime minister, Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa officially opened the PTA program, and the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Captain (R), Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal, Secretary of the Cabinet Division, Mr.Abdul Rauf Chaudhry, Secretary IT & Telecom, Mr.Naguibullah Malik, president of the PTA, Dr.Mohammed Yasin, Member (Finance) PTA Syed Nasrul Karim Ghaznavi, Member (Technical) PTA, Dr. Siddique Khawar Khokhar and representatives of the IT industry and telecommunications were also present at the occasion.

Advisor to PM on IT Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, Parliamentary Sectretary Interior Capt (R) Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal, Secretary Cabinet Division Mr. Abdul Rauf Chaudary, Secretary IT and Telecom Mr. Naguibullah Malik and Chairman PTA Dr. Mohammad Yaseen are praying after unveiling the plaque of "Promoting ICT Sector: Enabling Infromation Based Society" Programme at PTA HQs

At the opening ceremony, Director of IT & Telecom, said Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, the government is committed to improving the quality of manpower in the ICT sector. He said he will continue to provide the necessary support to industry and universities. Play in taking on the world stage for technological development and application of ICT to promote more important role in human society. And who said we need to recognize the efforts and close cooperation of everyone, including operators, device manufacturers, content providers and academia. He praised the efforts of the PTA for the diffusion of ICT in the country. He said the massive development of telecommunications services, such as the eyes opened and is convinced that there is still room for expansion and growth. New applications of ICT has created new forms of consumption, and drew a large number of consumers.

On this occasion, the Minister said IT & Telecom, our ICT industry has become in the last ten years. In response to a legal and transparent political apparatus is to maintain market liberalization, increased private sector participation and competition. He said the industry data and telecommunications sector has become competitive with private actors strategic mastery of new technologies, prices and customer service. ICT as a promising economic sector in Pakistan significant revenue pickled remarkable work and create opportunities for new country emerged. He said today the government is committed to the ICT sector in the movement to support the necessary policies. We are in the final phase of development of future policy for the entire ICT sector. The development of this program is very open policy, which incorporates a series of consultations with stakeholders. He said that our goal is to promote the conditions necessary for the creation of content and applications to improve human resource productivity. It is for this reason that we must work harder to ensure that the benefit must be achieved milestones in the desired shape. The Government will continue to promote and support in this matter, he added.

Speaking in the case of PTA President said Pakistan has developed as one of the major markets in the telecommunications sector, mainly in the voice.

In the field of broadband communications in December 2008 had about 250,000 broadband customers, within a year, in December 2009, the number 600,000 is a huge annual growth rate of more than 200%. But at the same time, continue to lag behind in global broadband penetration. 600,000 subscribers representing a penetration rate of only 0.36%. This is what we ask for mutual cooperation for the development of local content and applications, the use of broadband to promote all areas of life. He said that businesses are on the lookout for future revenues depend largely on the availability of the value of data services. A key issue for the progress of the data segment is the availability of content and applications that can contribute to ICT based on economic contribution. Therefore, the PTA now focused on the development of local content and applications, he added.

PTA Chairman said that in connection with its efforts to develop ICT in Pakistan PTA various initiatives undertaken to implement new and innovative ways to encourage improvements in the telecommunications industry and society. As part of this effort of the PTA is now available in an exclusive interview to promote the ICT industry, on February 25, 2010 (Thursday) at the conference. The was organized in view of the importance of local content and applications for the future promotion of ICT industry and infrastructure.