IN the talk shows we often hear that we continue paying one-rupee levy imposed in 1970 in the name of the then devastating East Pakistan floods. Effective Oct 1, 2012, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), in the name of controlling grey traffic, increased up to 400pc the rate for international incoming calls to Pakistan to make rich the 12 to 13 service providers.

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) termed it a cartel. Nawaz Sharif promised the overseas Pakistanis that it would be reduced but like his other promises and election slogans it also remains merely lip-service.

A special three-series highly technical talk show came on the air simply suggesting that rather than decrease, the grey traffic minutes increased. In early 2014, according to press reports, the family of Nawaz Sharif also suffered from this grey traffic when he showed his anger, but perhaps could not do enough against the powerful cartel.

However, sometime in the early second half of 2014 the so-called internal clearing house was de-established. It is perhaps now more than six months that after this de-establishment the call rates have not come to pre-October 2012 level.

The ‘levy’ still is going to the pockets of cartel members or somewhere else. This senior citizen would be the biggest fool hoping that some suo motu, some regulatory body or some so-called ombudsman would take note of this situation.

Muhammad Javed

Manama, Bahrain

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play