Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday awarded 3G and 4G mobile spectrum licenses to four cellular companies for the launch of next generation mobile phone services in the country and said that true development was only possible through modern technology. Documents to this effect were signed at a ceremony in the presence of the PM.
Addressing the ceremony, Sharif expressed confidence that the introduction of next generation mobile phone services will open new avenues of socio economic development in the country.
He said that the government was trying to tackle various challenges, adding that Pakistan that the country would be a stable, energised and developing state at the end of his government’s tenure after four years.
“By launching the 3G and 4 G services, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has fulfilled a commitment made in its election manifesto,” said Sharif, adding that credit also goes to the PML-N for having introduced fiber optics during its first stint in power in 1990.
He said the auction of 3G and 4 G services was considered transparent by the world community as transparent and successful and will help generate additional taxes to the tune of Rs 260 billion annually.
Sharif directed that the accessibility of broadband should be expanded to far flung areas and that telecom services should be made affordable. He emphasised the need for devising a code of conduct for the telecom sector to ensure better services to users.
Sharif called upon all segments of society, particularly the youth, to fully exploit the latest telecom services for research and education purposes.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the government still had two licenses of next generation mobile services which would be auctioned at an appropriate time after approval of the federal cabinet.
Dar vowed to rationalise telecom sector taxes in the upcoming budget. He expressed confidence that the launch of next generation mobile phone services would accelerate economic growth in the country.
Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman said the government was committed to bringing e-revolution in the country and that several projects had been prepared in this regard.
“We are aggressively pursuing a project to further expand fiber optic connectivity,” said Rehman, adding that a project was being launched to minimise digital divide between the rural and urban areas.
“The project envisages establishment of telecenters in different parts of the country to provide e-services, such as e-health and e-education, besides provision of NADRA facilities. In the first phase, 500 telecenters will be established,” she said.
Highlighting the significance of the telecom sector for sustainable development, the PM said that his government “will continue to support all sectors to achieve the desired objectives”.
POWER PROJECTS: Giving an overview of the reforms introduced by the government in different sectors, Sharif said several projects have been launched to cope with the electricity crisis. These include Giddani coal based power project, 1,320 megawatt Port Qasim project, 1,320 MW Jamshoro project and 450 MW Nandipur power project.
Sharif said that the government had envisaged several long term hydel power projects, including Diamer-Basha, Dasu and Bunji dams to meet the growing electricity demand.
GWADAR DEVELOPMENT: The PM said an investment of Rs 160 billion will be made for the development of Gwadar port and construction work on the Gwadar airport will be started shortly. He said infrastructure projects, including Lahore-Karachi motorway will help put the country on the path of sustainable development.
Sharif said that as a result of fiscal reforms, foreign exchange reserves had increased and the rupee was strengthening against the dollar.
“Inflation has been contained to a single digit while remittances have also witnessed growth in the past six months,” he said.
The PM said that major successes were being achieved on the economic front and in the war against terrorism, which were improving the country’s international image. He expressed the resolve to transform Pakistan into a stable and prosperous nation in the next four years.
