ISLAMABAD, June 17: The federal government has earmarked over Rs515 million for the ongoing projects, improvement and expansion of telecommunication systems in Gilgit-Baltistan in the Public Sector Development Programme 2005-06.

About 15,000 local telephone lines outside plant would be provided to major towns in Northern Areas for which an amount of Rs125.520 million has been earmarked.

The project will be completed at a cost of Rs195.5 million.

An allocation of Rs120 million has been made for installing optical fibre cables along with transmission system between Gilgit and Skardu. The project will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs198 million.

Another allocation of Rs70 million has been made for installation of optic fibre cable along with transmission system between Mansehra and Gilgit.

For the expansion and improvement of telecommunication facilities in the region an allocation of Rs200 million has been earmarked in the PSDP. The phase-II of the project would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs669 million.

A combined allocation of Rs75 million has been made for the Rs450-million mobile GSM project in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas.

The international gateway exchange and earth station projects, being executed in AJK and Northern Areas, will get Rs18.733 million jointly. The project will cost Rs198.4-million.