NADRA has increased its registration in Balochistan by 35 percent during the last two years to enable the Baloch youth to benefit from various facilities and schemes like BISP. These views were expressed by Deputy Chairman NADRA, Tariq Malik, during his visit to NADRA Regional Headquarter Quetta, said a press release issued here on Friday. General Manager NADRA Baluchistan Muhammad Khalid Alizai and other high-ups of NADRA were also present on the occasion. “Balochistan is on our priority list and these steps are being taken on the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari. I believe that Balochi nationals will play a key role in development of the country. NADRA is making all out efforts to get the adult population in Baluchistan registered in a minimum possible time to facilitate them in getting education, health, employment and other facilities,” said the Deputy Chairman NADRA.

“NADRA has so far registered 66 percent of the total eligible population of Balochistan and with public cooperation we can soon register total adult population,” he added. Malik said that NADRA has recently established six registration centers in various cities including Dera Bugti, two each in Quetta City, Pishin, Killa Abdullah and Sherani. “In addition to these, two female staffed centers in Quetta and Pishin are registering female applicants only to facilitate the women registration ill the region. NADRA has also established 10 semi mobile units in Ziarat, Mashkhel, Nokundi, Kholu, Dukki and Jafferabad,” he added. There are 28 mobile registration vans already working in Balochistan registering scattered population in far flung areas. Tariq Malik randomly visited NADRA registration centers without any security even in highly tense areas where the law and order situation is dismal.

He asked for public feedback and listened to the public complaints which were mostly regarding blocked cards. Tariq Malik convinced the complainants that NADRA needed to do due diligence before issuing ID cards in national interest so that only eligible Pakistanis get registered in the database. He lauded the efforts of NADRA staff and directed them to further improve the performance and facilitate the citizens as customer care is one of the prime objectives of NADRA. Malik said that Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has been introduced in 26 more districts and this success of BISP phase one will pave the way for phase two of BISP

Mobilink, announced a new SMS offer allowing Jazz customers to send unlimited text messages to all networks between midnight to noon.

Striving to deliver quality of service and meeting customer needs par excellence, Mobilink Jazz has launched yet another unique offer at a very nominal price of Rs 1.99 (taxes apply).

Jazz SMS Plus is a subscription based offer launched by Pakistan’s favorite prepaid cellular brand keeping in view the growing trend of sending text messages amongst the subscribers and is in line with the company’s efforts to bring the best value to the consumer.

SMS is fast becoming a preferred mode of communication amongst Jazz customers with a manifold increase in SMS users in the year 2009 as compared to 2008. A study last year by PCWorld ranked Pakistan fourth in global SMS usage and the country with the largest text messaging growth in Asia Pacific.

To avail Mobilink Jazz SMS Plus offer, customers can type *106*1# and press send.

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) has raised the bar in providing cutting edge business solutions to its customers and corporate clients by launching Tele Presence, the first of its kind in Pakistan. PTCL Tele Presence is an innovative new technology that combines rich audio with high-definition video to deliver a true “in person” virtual meeting experience while connecting customers, partners and co-workers in real time. The main drivers in introducing this technology is to reduce costs, improve corporate social responsibility (CSR) credentials through reduced environmental impact and improve responses to business challenges and opportunities.

The PTCL Tele Presence ensures efficient end-to-end life size meeting experience by providing fully managed and scalable services over PTCL’s global network. PTCL allow customers to come in and rent our Tele Presence studio on an hourly basis, without having to invest in the expensive technology, thus increase productivity through more interactions and less travel.

PTCL Tele Presence provides high quality video that enables access to anyone, anywhere around the world. Quality, simplicity, and reliability let user focus on the meeting, and communicate as naturally and effectively as if they were face to face, this increases the speed of decision making and helps in developing better relationships with colleagues, associates and customers, all of which is crucial to a company’s success in today’s thriving and competitive business environment.

EVP Corporate Solutions Zaman Gulzar said, PTCL offers Tele Presence conferencing studios for hire currently in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Aside from this, these conferencing centers will be able to connect to Middle East, Europe, and North America and to any other Tele Presence suites around the world. These studios with the special conference table can seat up to six people per location and incorporates video monitors to create a “virtual table” of up to 30 participants. In addition to this PTCL operated conferencing studios, a Managed Service offering is also available for our high usage customers, whereby enterprises could opt for PTCL to build and equip a studio at the customer’s premise itself.

SEVP Commercial Naveed Saeed said, PTCL Tele Presence is a giant leap ahead in Multi-media conferencing technology. Our aim is to provide our customers with the most updated and sophisticated communication technology and also provide them with the best solutions possible which serves all their business needs by increasing productivity through more interactions and less travel.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have raided illegal gateway exchange in F-10, Islamabad installed in a Flat and arrested four persons. This raid was conducted based on the information obtained through PTA’s facility which detects illegal telecom traffic. PTA Zonal Office Rawalpindi was monitoring the illegal activity before the raid.

It may be noted that PTA has launched a campaign against grey traffickers. PTA monitors the illegal activities on twenty four hours basis and adopts different procedures and processes to apprehend the culprits and to prevent losses to the national exchequer being caused by illegal telecom business.

Chairman PTA, Dr. Mohammed Yaseen appreciated the joint efforts of PTA and FIA teams and warned all those involved in the illegal telecom business to stop their activities otherwise PTA shall take strict action against them as per the law.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with FIA has busted a gang which was involved in Illegal Call Termination in two different areas of Lahore. The raids were conducted on the basis of the information obtained through PTA facility which detects illegal telecom traffic.

PTA and FIA teams, on receiving information from a service provider, launched crack down against illegal gateway operators in Eden Towers Gulberg and New Garder Town, Lahore. Two persons were arrested and illegal systems were confiscated from both the places. It may be noted that some prominent personalities were also identified among the arrested persons and more arrests are expected in near future.

Chairman PTA, Dr. Mohammed Yaseen appreciated the efforts of PTA and FIA teams. The Chairman directed PTA Zonal Offices to further expedite joint raids against such illegal activities so that losses to the national exchequer being caused by illegal telecom business can be prevented.

Ufone recently launched live news feed to help keep their valued customers aware of every happening in and out of Pakistan as and when it happens. Ufone users can now listen to Express News (Urdu), Express News 24/7 (English) & Aaj News simply by dialing 7774 from their Ufone numbers. This is the first of its kind offer given by any telecom operator in Pakistan and shows great initiative and a meaningful move from Ufone to keep their valued customers ahead of everyone else.

Mr. Akbar Khan Chief Marketing Officer said evolution within telecom is sure to come from the many value added initiatives that have already and continue to be offered to our valued customers & is the key to stand out within the stiff competition in the telecom industry. Ufone has raised the bar and will ensure this agility works out best for the customer. We always have and always will live up to the promise to bring a smile to our customers by giving them the best services in the industry.

Tameer Microfinance Bank and Telenor Pakistan announced a first of its kind product in Pakistan, offering transactions through the customer’s own mobile phone. ‘Mobile Account’ is the third in the suite of services being offered under the banner of easypaisa. Mobile Accounts will provide utility bill payment, money transfer and cash in / cash out services through customer’s Telenor connection. Customers will be able to carry out deposits and withdrawals from any of the 5500+ easypaisa Retail Merchants, 23 Sales and Service Centers, 50 Tameer Microfinance Bank Branches and 225 Telenor Franchises from all over the country.

CEO Tameer Microfinance Bank, Nadeem Hussain considers the launch of Mobile Account a defining moment in providing financial empowerment to the masses. “Through our over the counter services, we have already broken new grounds in terms of access to financial services. With Mobile Account we now empower the consumer to take charge of his own financial destiny”.

Chief Executive Officer Telenor Pakistan Jon Eddy Abdullah said, “We have been delighted with the success of Bill Payment and Money Transfer. With close to 420,000 bill payment transactions since launch and more than 120,000 Money Transfer transactions within a few months’ time, international media, such as CNN have termed easypaisa, the model for the future. I am confident that Mobile Account will generate even more interest by providing increased convenience to the customer.”

Mobile Accounts can be opened by any Telenor subscriber from any Telenor Sales & Service Center, Telenor Franchise or Tameer Bank Branch by presenting original CNIC. Initially Mobile Account customers will be able to carry out bill payment, money transfer and deposits & withdrawals through their mobile account. Upcoming services include fund transfers to any bank in Pakistan, withdrawals through ATM cards, payment of Telenor Persona bills, purchase of easyload and receiving International Remittances from abroad.

Considering that 89% of adult population in Pakistan is unbanked and 62% use mobile phone services, easypaisa aims to provide financial inclusion for the urban as well as the rural population. The vision of easypaisa is to bring the bank to the customer, providing ease, convenience, accessibility and reliability

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification for its two National Registration Centers (NRCs).

The audit was conducted by an internationally accredited body Bureau Veritas Certification (Pvt.) Ltd recently.

“This is a landmark achievement attained as an outcome of upbeat efforts by NADRA teams to promote advanced technologies and the highest quality management standards to enable fast paced registrations for the citizens of Pakistan,” said NADRA Deputy Chairman Tariq Malik.

“Quality is a journey, not the end and NADRA is leading the best standards for managing registration requirements and delivery of National Identity documents for Pakistanis.” “We are consistently monitoring and improving our service delivery as our officers randomly visit the registration centres as mystery customers and we are always looking forward to valuable suggestions from civil society and media to help us improve our services further,” he further added. This certification has mapped and aligned existing registration procedures with International Quality Standards focusing on improved customer satisfaction and service efficiency.

NADRA has already achieved CMMI certification by Carnegie Mellon USA, ISMS (ISO 27001) and ISO 9001:2008 for other directorates. It is pertinent to mention that recently ID World Achievement Award 2009 by ID World Congress based in Italy was awarded to NADRA Deputy Chairman Tariq Malik for outstanding performance after the selection from 250 candidates of 75 countries

Experience the 3G evolution for the first time in Pakistan with PTCL EVO, Three simple steps to High speed On-the-Go connectivity, Just Plug in-Click-Connect and experience high speed on the go internet connectivity with the country’s largest and the most reliable 3G network; wherever and whenever you want. In today;s highly competitive market landscape, wireless connectivity has become an essential tool to stay connected. PTCL Evo, with its latest 3G technology, nationwide roaming, a variety of exciting packages and an unmatched coverage network, has become the premium connectivity choice for consumers nationwide. PTCL EVO 3G Wireless Broadband is Pakistan;s fastest wireless internet which offers its customers “superior 3G internet experience”. Evo Wireless Broadband is enabling the wireless broadband revolution in Pakistan with flexibility to roam freely like never before. EVO, now offers its customers a variety of Prepaid as well as Postpaid packages and the ease of recharge through Vfone prepaid scratch cards, easily available nationwide; making EVO an ideal connectivity solution. Naveed Saeed, SEVP commercial said “Working in a market where technology changes every minute; We at PTCL always strive to introduce products and services that add more value to our customer;s life and PTCL EVO is one such service that has completely revolutionized the way our customers communicate” Syed Asim Ali, EVP commercial planning said “Through superior 3G experience we let our customers Spend less time waiting and more time working and accessing media rich applications from downloading songs to live video streaming, at home on your desktop or on the move on your laptop. In future PTCL plans to introduce a variety of innovative services that can enhance our customer;s life, which is our ultimate goal.

Mobilink, has reiterated its commitment to eradicate polio from the country by launching today an SMS based service to assist the Polio Control Cell (PCC) in tracking missed areas and children.

Through this SMS service, Mobilink subscribers will be able to report areas and children where the polio immunization teams have not reached. Users will be able to call the teams to their doorstep by typing POLIO and sending the text to ‘7654’ from the 17th to 19th of February. The sender will be contacted by the Polio Control Cell to ensure that the respective health authorities immunize the missed children. Initiated by Mobilink under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) umbrella, the SMS is a free service and no charges apply for sending messages to the 7654. Within hours of the launch of the service, thousands of Mobilink users contacted the PCC for immunization.

Addressing media at the Polio Control Cell in Islamabad today, Federal Health Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin made special mention of Mobilink’s 7654 service to assist the Polio Control Cell. The Minister personally tested the Mobilink 7654 service on the spot and expressed his satisfaction upon receiving instant confirmation SMS indicating on behalf of PCC.

Mobilink’s role was also acknowledged by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani at the launch of the first 2010 Anti-Polio campaign held at the PM House earlier this week. “In the current round, the country’s largest mobile operator Mobilink is helping us track and reach missed children. Now parents can send a text message reporting missed areas for children to the national polio control cell and a polio team will be dispatched to their homes within one hour,” Gilani said.

“We need to replicate the spirit of volunteerism exhibited in the anti polio drive and areas as well. This is an excellent model of collaboration at a national scale between different organizations however diverse in fighting a common enemy – disease and disability,” Gilani added.

In addition to this service, Mobilink has also committed to create awareness by sending public service messages to more than 8 million subscribers in districts that have been identified as high-risk by the Polio Eradication Fraternity. Last year, Mobilink joined hands with Ministry of Health and other partner organizations of the Polio Eradication Fraternity to reach out to millions of parents in select high-risk zones across Pakistan. In addition to Mobilink, NADRA, Pakistan Post, Pakistan Motorways Police, Traffic Police in major cities, and major media outfits are working with the Anti-Polio fraternity to make 2010 the last year for polio in Pakistan.