ISLAMABAD, April 5: Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Monday told the National Assembly that a new policy for the introduction of satellite telephone system in difficult and remote areas would be announced soon.

In reply to a number of supplementary questions during the question hour, the minister hoped that the new policy would be unfolded within this week. After the policy announcement, endeavours would be made for the rolling out of the facility within this year, he added.

He said the new satellite system would benefit a lot of people, especially those living in difficult remote areas. During the question hour, the minister also offered Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain to install a device to block the signals of mobile phones inside the assembly hall.

The offer came when the speaker expressed dismay over the constant ringing of cellular phones, saying that despite his repeated observations the members always failed to switch off their cell phones inside the house. He asked the minister to suggest a way to get rid of it.

The minister suggested that if the National Assembly Secretariat was willing to fund, his ministry would install the device in the hall. He said PTCL had earned a profit of Rs23 billion during 2002- 03 as compared to Rs19.8 billion in the corresponding period of 2001-02.

He said the profit was also shared with the PTCL customers by reducing line rent and long distance, international call charges and upgradation of the existing services which would squeeze the profits of the company by Rs6 billion.

About the reasons of privatizing the PTCL when the company was giving huge profits, he said the purpose was to attract new management, capital and technology to improve the efficiency and quality of services.

Besides, the proceeds would be used to retire national debt and implement poverty alleviation programmes, generate higher tax revenues as well as increase profits for the shareholders through enhanced profitability in the private sector.

He said the new management of the PTCL was seriously considering to regularize the daily wage workers, but any deadline in this regard would not be appropriate.