LAHORE: PTCL internet services may not be restored in most parts of Punjab by Oct 2 (Thursday), Dawn has learnt.

The services were disrupted when a fire broke out at the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited’s main exchange on Egerton Road early Sunday. The blaze badly affected landline, mobile communication and internet services across the province.

The PTCL management on Monday failed to get any of the services restored much to the frustration of its hundreds and thousands of subscribers. A number of banks expressed their inability regarding online transactions in the absence of internet services. Similarly, its EVO internet service has been suspended since Sunday morning.

“Failing to get connected to internet through EVO throughout Sunday, I thought perhaps my connection has been suspended due to non-payment of my monthly bill as the due date was Sept 30. I deposited Rs1,200 through an easypaisa outlet but my connection remained suspended. Today I called the PTCL call centre which told me that due to the fire the equipment had been damaged but it did not tell me when the internet would be restored,” Saqib Latif told Dawn.

Similarly, several banks that had PTCL internet connection found it very difficult to satisfy their customers about their inability to do online transactions.

“I had to send Rs500,000 to my business partner in Karachi online but I couldn’t. I was first told by the bank administration that internet was down and he might come later in the day. Reaching there at 3pm I met with same disappointment,” Ishtiaq Ahmed who visited a bank in Township said.

“We have no words from the PTCL management when the internet connection will be restored,” a senior banker in Cantonment told Dawn. He said the ATM service had also been hit.

The services of mobile phone companies, especially Ufone, were also affected.

Neither the PTCL management preferred to issue any statement to the media nor its spokesman responded to Dawn’s query on the issue.

A source said the PTCL team was finding it difficult to replace and repair the equipment.

“The PTCL internet services may be restored by Thursday and the landline by Tuesday (today),” the source said. He held the management responsible for poor security of its main centre.

“The condition of the PTCL offices is poor as the management is not spending adequately on them,” he said.

On the other hand, the City District Government of Lahore has asked the forensic laboratory to collect samples from the site to determine the exact cause of fire.

Published in Dawn, September 30th , 2014