20 January 2005	Thursday	09 Zilhaj 1425

PESHAWAR, Jan 19: The mobile phone connection base in the country has crossed the mark of eight millions, which shows progress in the telecom sector in the last few years.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority's zonal chief Nisar Ahmad Awan said though the base had increased, public complaints about service quality was a matter of concern for the PTA management.

Mr Aawan, who was presiding over a meeting of the PTA staff in Peshawar, said the high connectivity base of mobile service in the country was quite encouraging, but it was equally important for mobile phone companies to improve their service.

Some cell phone firms, he regretted, were concentrating on increasing their customer base without improving their service. The PTA chairman had advised the companies to improve their service, he informed the meeting. The PTA would take strict action against the mobile operators not meeting the PTA standard.