ISLAMABAD, March 9: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) chairman Akhtar Ahmad Bajwa has hinted at introduction of new telecom policy within a few weeks.

According to a press release, the chairman was talking to the members of H-29 batch of Assistant Divisional Engineers (ADEs) at Telecom Staff College, Haripur.

He said the telecom company accorded utmost importance to human resource development. Its engineers/managers are well- equipped with modern managerial and telecom skills and they have the potential to compete with the challenges, he added.

“The PTCL has taken a number of measures for human resource development.”

The chairman said, with the assistance of the French government, the PTCL had established a National Postgraduate Institute for Informatics Technologies. MSc level programmes have also been initiated at the institute, he added.

It arranges a number of short courses on various subjects like computer, information technology, and telecom technologies. The institute is playing a vital role in human resource development, the chairman said.

“These programmes help in updating the knowledge and skills of the PTCL personnel. Now we have a pool of trained professionals in the country.”

Mr Bajwa said the telecom company was getting benefits from foreign scholarships and training facilities as well as services being offered by foreign telecom entities like International Telecommunication Union and Asia Pacific Telecom Union.

“We have started imparting training to personnel in local institutes like Nipa, Lums and Administrative Staff College with special emphasis on customer care and marketing.”

The chairman said a separate marketing and customer care wing had been established to ensure utmost customer care.

He stressed the need for simplifying certain procedures for the convenience of customers. He also highlighted the company’s efforts for improving tele-density in the country.