Senate committee smells a rat in optic-fiber contract

ISLAMABAD – Expressing dissatisfaction over awarding contracts to different firms for optic-fiber lines, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology on Monday directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to probe into the issue thoroughly otherwise the matter would be referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for investigation. The committee said that the contracts were given to different companies in violation of rules and the PTA should probe the matter and submit its report in the next meeting of the committee on March 14. The committee also added that the matter would be referred to FIA if proper inquiry was not conducted. The committee further directed the PTA to investigate the matter of service breakdown of Mobilink, a cellular phone company.
PTA Chairman Dr Muhammad Yasin said that the service breakdown occurred as the company did not have alternative back-up system and the company had assured to restore the service within hours. The committee also told the PTA to impose heavy fine on the company for the negligence of not having alternative system and also compensate the losses incurred to the consumers owing to the service breakdown. The PTA Chairman said that a four-member committee had been constituted to look into the matter and action would be taken against the company as per law after thorough investigation.