ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will launch a survey to check the quality of services being offered by Pakistan Telecommunication Company from the first week of August, PTA Chairman Dr Mohammad Yaseen said on Friday.

Flanked by members of the PTA at a press conference here on Friday, Yaseen said that the regulator was working with cellular operators to block spam SMS. “Cellular operators will install filters in their systems to give their clients a choice to block any SMS which they do not want to receive.”

Answering various queries about PTCL’s services, the PTA chairman said they would conduct a quality survey in the first week of August, and if PTCL is found to be violating laws, the regulator would take action against it.

When asked to comment on the government’s ordinance on objectionable SMS, he said the government issued the ordinance to establish a mechanism to check on those involved in it.

He said PTA had launched a consumer complaint handling centre by establishing the Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD) at its headquarters in Islamabad.

He claimed tariff offered by telecommunication services in Pakistan is the cheapest compared to India and other parts of the world.

Answering a query about installation of towers in border areas, Mohammad Yaseen said comprehensive surveys were being conducted to ensure that there were no spillovers, as a certain distance needs to be maintained to avoid such unwarranted situation.

“In this regard, we have held discussions with neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan and India on a regular basis,” he added.

To another query regarding held-up taxes, he said PTA was paying mutually agreed installments of due taxes to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

When asked why PTA was opposing contribution of three per cent of its income to the Competition Commission, he replied that PTA was not opposing any such move.

However, he said that the income of PTA was deposited in a consolidated fund of the government and it was up to the finance ministry how to resolve the issue.

PTA Chairman said the Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD) comprises of a complaint cell to which the consumers have access through toll free number, telephone, fax, e-mail, PTA’s website, post and in person visitation.

Discussing salient features of ‘Consumer Protection Regulations, 2009’ formulated by PTA, Yaseen said it will ensure service provisioning as per consumer choice/request and without discrimination, and no activation or deactivation of services/packages without user consent.

Fair commercial practices/advertisement will ensure it should not to be misleading, inadequate or unclear in terms and tariffs; there is clear and complete specification of tariff information, detailed billing information as per license conditions and publication of Code of Commercial Practice & Service Contract for the awareness of consumers.

Dr Yaseen said in case a complaint is not resolved by the operators, a subscriber may contact the PTA Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD).