Islamabad : Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) have agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in the field of telecommunication while PTA will extend help to ATRA for the furtherance of telecom services in Afghanistan.  This was decided in a meeting of both the Authorities at PTA Headquarters.  This high level delegation of Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority headed by Chairman, ATRA, Mr. Zakaria Hassan is presently visiting Pakistan.

On this occasion, Chairman PTA, Dr.Mohammed Yaseen briefed the delegation on Pakistan telecom sector development.  He said that Pakistan has made unprecedented progress in mobile and fixed telephone sectors and internet services.  The Chairman said that the operators from Pakistan are willing to extend fiber optic links to Afghanistan after which Pakistan will be connected to Central Asian Countries, Central States and Afghanistan could also be linked to the International Sea Cable System through Pakistan. He proposed a joint working group to expedite this process and to enhance mutual cooperation.

Chairman, ATRA Mr. Zakaria Hassan said that Afghanistan opened up its telecom sector in 2003 and since then it has made rapid progress.  He said that we want to get benefit of Pakistan experience in telecommunication areas such as interconnect costing models and tariff regulations also showed interest in the training from Pakistan.

During the meeting issues pertaining to cross border flow of telecom signals were also discussed.  It was decided that a joint committee will formulate guidelines in this regard.  It was decided that Memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed to enhance mutual cooperation in training, sea cables system and interference.  On this occasion representatives of Afghan telecom and senior PTA officials were also present.

Khurram Ali Mehran

Director (PR)