ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: Telecom Foundation, a subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL), has fired 150 workers in the past one-and-a-half months while fears are high that it will not renew contracts of about 2,250 more employees till the end of December.

Most of 2,400 employees recruited by the Telecom Foundation for the PTCL on contract basis were key punch operators (KPOs). Thirty-nine KPOs were fired on Thursday, bringing the total number of job cuts since the PTCL bidding to 150.

Meanwhile, the Privatization Commission is trying its best to influence Etisalat to pay the amount it had offered as the first bidder to buy 26 per cent shares of the PTCL.

The Abu Dhabi telecom has demanded substantial job cuts before it takes over the company.

Sources said Etisalat was demanding the Pakistani government to cut 25,000 unskilled jobs in the PTCL, creating fears among many employees and even some members of the management.

Some of the KPOs, who have been fired by the Telecom Foundation, said at a press conference at the National Press Club on Friday that they would move the court and bring the matter to the parliament.