ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Monday awarded licenses to three leading Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) aimed at providing the Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The permits were awarded to CMOs including CMPak (Zong), Telenor Pakistan, and PTML (Ufone) here at a ceremony witnessed by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Muhammad Khalid Khurshid and Chief Executive Officers of respective companies.
Federal Secretary for IT & Telecommunication Dr Suhail Rajput, PTA Chairman Maj Gen (Retd) Amir Azeem Bajwa, PTA members, Special Assistant to the AJK Prime Minister AJK on Information Technology, Secretary Kashmir and GB Affairs, Executive Director Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) and senior management of mobile were also present on the occasion.
The CMOs have recently secured the spectrum though a transparent auction process.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur said getting the advanced mobile phone services was the longstanding demand of the people of AJK and GB and termed award of the licenses a ‘historical achievement.’
The minister appreciated the efforts of PTA for the successful completion of the spectrum auction process.
He congratulated the winning mobile operators and said through the NGMS, the digital divide would reduce and the tourism activities would further increase in the regions.
On directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said the delayed auction process was accelerated to provide quality services to people of these areas.
He was of the view that additional spectrum would start a new era of development in the area and hoped that quality data service would also enhance tourism.
Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Muhammad Khalid Khurshid thanked the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Chairman PTA for taking keen interest in fulfilling the demand of the AJK and GB people.
He said due to lack of quality services in the area, the education activities were badly affected during the COVID-19. He congratulated the mobile operators on the award of NGMS licenses and hoped that this would open up a new era of modern telecom services for the people of AJK and GB.
Federal Secretary for IT & Telecommunication Dr Suhail Rajput said his ministry was committed to enhancing connectivity and improve digital infrastructure in the country.
He said the auction process was done in a transparent and fair manner; and the provision of the spectrum would hopefully improve the service in the areas.
Maj Gen (Retd) Amir Azeem Bajwa said the auction process was started as per Digital Pakistan’s vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and to provide quality services to the people of these areas.
He said all the hurdles were removed on special directives of PM Imran Khan and the process was stepped up with an aim to bring the areas as par with other parts of the country
He said Pakistanis have access to high-quality services and they could benefit from ubiquitous coverage. Continuous efforts are being made to spread state-of-the-art telecommunication services to far-flung areas enabling access to a multitude of opportunities for businesses, education, and health sectors, he added.
The chairman said the award of licenses for NGMS in the two regions would contribute towards strengthening the uninterrupted provision of better telecom services to the people of AJK and GB in line with the PM’s vision of a Digital Pakistan.
He was of the view that additional spectrum would provide improved quality services to the consumers of AJK and GB and enhance coverage footprint for Voice and Data services. “This will positively impact the tourism sector of AJK and GB, ” he added.