Cable operators to get district level licence within a week

A delegation of the Internet and Cable Association of Pakistan (ICAP) held a detailed meeting with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Hafeezur Rehman and Director-General (DG) Enforcement Brig. ® Amir Shehzad, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the ICAP delegation demanded that the process for obtaining a district-level license and commencing operations be simplified.

On this occasion Brig. ® Amir Shehzad assured the delegation that any cable operator who applies for the district-level license will get the same within seven days, and the next commencement will also be given within seven days.

The ICAP delegation demanded that limit of bank statement should be decreased and government should permit them to install wireless towers.

The delegation further demanded that NOCs for laying underground fiber across various provinces and cities should be obtained on an emergency basis by coordinating with provincial governments, Railways, the Highway Authority, and the Irrigation Department regarding ‘Right of Way’.

Cable operators should be granted permission to use electricity poles across Pakistan free of charge.

The PTA Chairman and other officials assured the ICAP delegation that their demands would be addressed as soon as possible and gave assurances that cable operators would be included in future policies. 

PTA officials commended the services rendered by cable operators to the cable and internet industries. 

The ICAP delegation included Chairman Khalid Arain, General Secretary Chaudhry Tahir Javed, President Akhlaq Ahmed, Information Secretary Niaz Shaikh, Punjab President Irfan Goraia, KPK President Saeed Ahmed, Punjab General Secretary Mirza Atif, Punjab Vice President Shahid Khattak, KPK General Secretary Hafiz Asad, Azad Kashmir President Khurram Shahzad, Entertainment Manager Kamran Yousafzai, and other office-bearers.