ISLAMABAD, March 2: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) on Thursday signed an agreement on payment of utility bills through authority’s kiosks.

PTCL Executive Vice-President (Customer Care) Jamil A. Khwaja and Nadra Public Service Division Director-General Brig (retired) Mirza Baber Aziz Beg signed the agreement. Nadra Chairman Brig (retired) Saleem Ahmed Moeen and PTCL Chairman Junaid I. Khan were also present.

Nadra has installed 35 kiosks in Karachi and five in Islamabad for making bill payments and their number across the country would be increased to 200 by June 2006.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nadra chairman said the authority was already providing its services for receiving bill payments on behalf of Karachi Electric Supply Company, Sui Southern Gas Company and Islamabad Electric Supply Company. “But PTCL has given Nadra a countrywide forum to collect payment of telephone bills,” he added.

The official said Nadra could provide similar services to other utility service providers in the country.

A source in Nadra told Dawn that the authority would charge the same amount from the PTCL for receiving bills as done by banks.

The PTCL chairman said the new service would help the telecom consumers avoid standing in long queues outside the banks for bill payment.

“Through the facility they can also get pin codes for pre- paid products including calling cards and telephone bill payment cards,” the PTCL chief said.

The pilot project of Nadra’s kiosks is operational in Karachi and Islamabad. The network would be expanded in other cities and rural areas of the country and by the end of current year the country would have 500 kiosks.