HYDERABAD, Sept 14: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Company authorities to connect at least 50 per cent remote villages of Sindh to the telecommunication system.

He issued the directive while talking to the PTCL officers at the circuit house here on Saturday night.

The prime minister called on the PTCL officers following a complaint by District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman that no progress was made by the company to install a digital telephone exchange in an area of Hyderabad.

Mr Jamali said connection of rural areas with the telecommunication system would bring about a rapid development in the areas.

He said the government was committed to providing maximum facilities to rural areas.

Briefing the prime minister, the general manager, development, PTCL, Saeed Ahmad, said the company would soon achieve the target of providing 198,000 telephone connections in different parts of the province.

He also told Mr Jamali about the work being carried out by the PTCL to connect remote villages with the system.

MERIT: Talking to a delegation of Nazims, Naib Nazims and councillors of Nawabshah, Badin and Sanghar districts at the circuit house here on Saturday night, the prime minister said his government would adhere to the policy of merit, particularly in appointments.