I should be getting more calls from my relatives in Pakistan soon… 
PTCL cuts call charges
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has reduced international and domestic calls tariffs, which would come into effect on November 1. The decision to slash the tariff has been taken in line with the directives of the Federal Minister for Information Technology, Awais Ahmad Leghari, said a press release. “The company intends to reduce nationwide call rates for distance exceeding 180 km from Rs 10.04 to Rs 8.50 per minute, a reduction of 15.34 per cent. Likewise, rates for distances between 80 and 160 km have been reduced from Rs 7 to Rs 6.50 per minute,” it said.
Similarly, PTCL has reduced overseas call rates by 23 per cent per minute. The per minute call rates for Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Libya, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, UAE, UK and USA have been fixed at Rs 30 from Rs 39 per minute.
“During the year ended June 30, 2003, the number of working connections has increased to 3.983 million from 3.655 million, shows an increase of about 9 per cent, whereas, the total capacity increased to 4.940 million from 4.326 million lines, shows a growth of 14.2 per cent over the year. Direct dialling long-distance facilities were extended to 343 new stations bringing the total NWD stations up to 1986 towns and villages of Pakistan, coverage of almost 40 per cent of PTCL licence area. The internet access has reached to almost 1,800 cities and towns, with a data bandwidth availability of over 400 Mbps,” added the press release.