May 22, 2009

Special Tariff for Fund Collection approved

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has approved special tariff for its Class Value Added Services (CVAS) licensees collecting funds through PRS services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Swat.

Companies wishing to offer Premium Rate Services (PRS), whereby callers would be charged @ Rs.20/minute or Rs.25/minute, have been allowed to do so and the collections would be deposited in the â??Prime Minister Special Fund for Victims of Terrorismâ? by the respective Companies.  PTCL gets a share of 40%, which they would also deposit in the special fund after collection of bills from their customers.

It may be noted that PTA, in collaboration with cellular mobile industry, has also started the 1199 SMS Service.  Through this service, subscribers of all mobile operators can send an SMS to 1199 by writing FUND and each SMS will be charged @ Rs.10/- which will be deposited in â??Prime Minister Special Fund for Victims of Terrorismâ?.

All Cellular Mobile Operators have been directed to send SMS to all customers with the request to contribute generously to the PM fund.  All Cellular Mobile operators have started sending the SMS to their customers.

Apart from these decisions, the telecom industry especially cellular mobile operators are actively engaged in welfare and rehabilitation activities for IDPs of Swat.

 

Khurram A. Mehran

Director (Public Relations)