Karachi: Local mobile operators have sought the government’s permission to expand their networks in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB); where 3G and 4G services are yet to be launched – a news source reported.
A representative of the industry has contended that not only will this undertaking provide the government with billions of rupees in attainable revenue, it will also allow locals to work from home or acquire education under the country’s current — corona-ridden — circumstances. The major mobile network operators had also petitioned the government last week to provide tax relief under the prevailing scenario.
According to IT and Telecommunication Secretary Shoaib Ahmed
Siddiqui, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, in a response measure, has formed a
committee to evaluate the petition; tasked with carrying out consultations and
submitting its recommendations to the PM Office.
Currently, mobile industry leaders are petitioning the
government to allow their companies to pay the same price they had paid in 2006
for the voice services in these two regions. The five cellular operators had
paid USD 10 million each at that time.
