Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology subcommittee on Friday chaired by Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi discussed agenda regarding provision of 3G and 4G service to FATA and remote areas of Balochistan.

The meeting discussed steps needed to help Universal Service Fund (USF) in providing telecom facilities to FATA and far flung areas of Balochistan. The senator said that provision of telecommunication facilities to FATA and Balochistan would usher these areas into new phase of development. He said that these areas were without modern telecommunication facilities due to unsatisfactory law and order situation.

He also urged FATA parliamentarians, political agents and concerned officials to support USF in launching monitoring survey in these areas. He said that NOC has been acquired from 11 Corps to start work in the areas that were declared cleared.

USF Chief Executive Faisal Sattar informed that FATA has been divided into four parts including Khyber, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Orakzai. He said that area elites, public representatives and administrations have been asked to extend their cooperation and help.

IT Additional Secretary Aftab Ahmad said that cooperation of locals was of supreme importance to accomplish the task. He informed that population number would be considered in providing telecommunication facilities to these areas.

Law and Order secretary assured cooperation of FATA secretariat to USF and said that foolproof security would be provided to them. Operation has delayed the survey in these areas however law and order situation has been improved, he said and adding that survey in the areas where tribesmen have been returned would be conducted soon.

The meeting among others was attended by Senator Shibli Faraz, Additional Secretary Ghous Muhammad Khan, Chief Executive Universal Service Fund Muhammad Aftab, Bajaur Assistant Political Agents Aisal Sattar, Muhmand and Orakzai and officials of FATA Secretariat.