09 January 2005	Sunday	27 Ziqa'ad 1425

NAWABSHAH, Jan 8: The Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Union has opposed the proposed privatization of the communications company, and has threatened to launch a resistance movement if authorities go ahead with the plan.

President of the employees union, Zulfiqar Sangi, and others told journalists at the press club here on Saturday that they would not allow the privatization of the company, and claimed that Indian investors were interested in purchasing 26 per cent of the company shares, which was a threat to national security and, as such, must be stopped.

Alleging that the management was depriving employees of their rights, Mr Sangi said that Rs30 million, released for building maintenance, were misused by giving contracts to favourites. Contractors had disclosed that they paid 50 per cent commission to officers, he insisted.

He said that daily-wagers and contract employees of the company were regularized in other provinces but not in Sindh, which was an injustice.

Medical panels remained closed, while new pay scales as promised by the management remained unannounced, he concluded.

WIRELESS PHONES: The Pakistan Telecommunication Company, Nawabshah division, will provide 7,000 wireless local loop connections starting next week.

Telegraphs divisional engineer Idris Shaikh told journalists that initially, 7,000 wireless connections would be provided from next week.

The division includes Naushahro Feroze district, which will be provided with 2,500 connections, while Nawabshah city will get 2,500 connections and Daur 2,000 connections that would start functioning in a week.