ICH exchange to start operations next month | The Nation
The Pak govt. has created this monopoly and raised rates to terminate calls in Pakistan effective Oct. 1 .
Vonage has dropped Pakistan from its unlimited calling plan.
Calling card companies are raising rates from 1-2 cents/min to 9-12 cents/min .
This is really disappointing.
People can call India for 1c/min but can’t call Pakistan cheaply anymore.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Vonage has dropped Pakistan from its unlimited calling plan??? REALLY??? What happens to those who have signed up already?
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Try ALLVOI. Its anyways cheaper than Vonage.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Try ALLVOI. Its anyways cheaper than Vonage.
Nope. They have dropped Pakistan from free calling as well. I didnt like their service anyways so I have dropped them and went back to vonage.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
CCP wants dropping of ICH idea | DAWN.COM
I also received email from my international calling service provider, they send me above link in email. Looks like vonage tried to bribe Pakistani authorities in order to boost the sale of unlimited calling plan. but now it is no longer available on their website.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Very sad indeed.Dunya mars per jah rahee hai aur humari government humaray jo loug mulk say bahir unkoo b wapis bolana cha rahee ahi.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
I think magic-jack/nettalk are also good option. but again, your computer/router should connect with it, which is not possible in the area where load shedding happens. 
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
a huge step backwards... not just bad for individuals but extremely bad for industry.
time to replace the use of phone service with Skype, Viber, MagicJack etc. and give govt. the middle finger.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Professor annoy huaa, much. 
Like those gadhaas will understand the friendly gesture. 
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
a huge step backwards... not just bad for individuals but extremely bad for industry.
time to replace the use of phone service with Skype, Viber, MagicJack etc. and give govt. the middle finger.
I wouldn't be surprised to see them block skype. They just need an excuse and it will happen in a flash...
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
That is really stupid of Vonage to drop Pakistan.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
I don't think its Vonages fault. Isn't it beause Zardari is putting like 500% tax on incoming international calls hence the increase in rate?
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Lets write a letter to Dr. Farooq Sattar. He is current minister of Overseas Pakistanis.
Phone: + (92-51) 9210220
Fax: + (92-51) 9206416
E-mail:[EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected]
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
That is really stupid of Vonage to drop Pakistan.
Its actually stupid of Pakistan's Govt to add different surcharges on incoming calls. Vonage and other provides can not afford unlimited calling or low rate.
I have checked many sites and cards but nothing is less than 7.5 cents per minutes a huge jump from average of 2.00 cents per minutes. Shame on Govt. While other countries are taking a step forward and making it cheap we are taking a step back.
Time to use online voice chatting and/or voyage device to device and kick some @@#%$#@! in Pakistan Govt.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Expats to pay up to $150m a month to call Pakistan](http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-135087-Expats-to-pay-up-to-$150m-a-month-to-call-Pakistan)
Jawwad Rizvi
Monday, October 01, 2012
LAHORE: Overseas Pakistanis will have to pay around $120-150 million per month to talk to their near and dear ones, as an International Clearing House (ICH) regime is going to be operative in the country from today (October1, 2012).
The call rates for overseas Pakistanis have increased from 10-10.5 cents to 10-12 cents per minute under the new regime, implemented by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has objected to the move, saying it can create monopoly of any one operator and increase grey traffic in Pakistan.
According to the telecommunication industry sources, the rates of the Long Distance International (LDI) operators have increased the cost of overseas calls and new revised rates would be implemented from Oct 1, 2012, as instructed by the PTA.
A PTA official said the basic objective behind establishing the ICH was to control grey traffic.It would not increase grey traffic, and different telecom operators would get their quota as per their existing share in the ICH whose infrastructure has been provided by the telecom industry, he added.
According to available data, monthly international calls traffic to Pakistan is 1.5 billion minutes and the increase in rates by 10-12 cents per minute is an additional burden on the overseas Pakistanis, who will have to pay around $120-150 million monthly.
According to a telecom industry official, at a time when the international call rates for overseas Pakistanis were 5 to 6 cents per minute and monthly call traffic was around 400 million minutes, a number of grey telephone exchanges were traced and busted by the PTA. Following decline in international calling rates to 1.5 cent per minute, the legal traffic has increased to 1.5 billion minutes per month. He feared that legal international calls would again drop, as the world is competing around 1 to 2 cents per minute, but Pakistan has increased it to 10 to 12 cents per minute.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the CCP said various overseas Pakistanis have expressed their concerns over increase in rates. They complained that now they would have to pay more to talk to their near and dear ones and the remittance to Pakistan will also decrease.
Apprehensions have been expressed that economic activity will suffer as overseas companies will be discouraged to do business with Pakistan. The worry is that if establishment of International Clearing House (ICH) and the rates fixed for termination of incoming overseas calls to Pakistan are given effect as proposed by the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), it will become very expensive in Pakistan in comparison with the neighbouring countries.
Haroon Piracha, former member National Assembly and corporate member Islamabad Stock Exchange, said as technology keeps on changing, conventional means of raising revenue appears to be a short-term gain. “While a higher tariff structure might seem good for one year, web-based communication solutions like VIBER available on cell-phones will make conventional means of raising revenue and stifling competition redundant.”
Dr Huma Bukhari, the chairperson of Consumer Association of Pakistan, said the ICH was an issue of consumers concern and the CCP should be fully supported in its efforts to protect consumers’ interest.
Kaukab Iqbal, president of the Consumer Association of Pakistan, warned that if the decision to establish the ICH was not shelved by the PTA, the consumer groups would take the matter to a court of law
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
try google voice
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
@Lusi google voice will soon change its rate to 10c/min
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Skype , Viber , Yahoo voice , Fring ?
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
^ Internet..
No electricity = no internet,= no skype, viber, fring.
Re: Calls to Pakistan getting expensive
Kinz: LP is princess, she does not know ground realities. 