LAHORE, Oct 19: The Pakistan Railways has signed an agreement with two reputed card payphonee operators to establish a communication system over the rail network, says a press release issued here on Friday.

The agreement was signed by PR secretary/ railway board chairman Lt-Gen Saeeduz Zafar (retired) on behalf of the government while Ajmal Ansari, M/S Telips managing director and Javaid Feroze M/S Telecard chief executive officer represented their firms. Federal communication and railways minister Lt-Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi (retired) was also present on the occasion.

According to the railways authorities, leading card payphone companies were invited for expression of interest in May, 2001. The two firms had been awarded an exclusive contract for setting up an exceptional communication system over the entire rail network.

Speaking on the occasion, PR marketing director Khalid Naqi said the three-year contract with the private firms would help the department equip its network with most modern communication outlets. He said the arrangement would also benefit passengers who would be charged according to the current PTCL tariff.