KARACHI, May 25: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has directed all cellular mobile operators to maintain proper record of cellphone users and follow all formal requirements while issuing new connections.

The PTA issued this directive in the wake of some complaints about irregular issuance of cellular connections.

It also formulated a detailed procedure for issuance of new cellphone connections and had already circulated that among mobile phone operators for strict compliance.

The authority directed mobile operators to follow the procedures to avoid complications, warning that failure to comply may lead to initiation of legal proceedings under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganisation) Act.

It observed that while issuing new mobile connections, proper verification and documentation of antecedents of subscribers was not being done.

The PTA also directed all operators to publish advertisement in newspapers to get issued connections regularised through ensuring correctness of antecedents of subscribers.It further directed the cellphone operators to furnish progress report by June 15, 2006.

The PTA has taken this action on complaints of issuance of new connections on unverifiable or incomplete documents.—PPI