KARACHI, Jan 15: At least nine thousand telephone lines are out of order in different towns of the metropolis for many months. Subscribers’ çomplaints to the utility, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) were not addressed and the problem persists.

The residents of Liaquatabad, Nazimabad No 2 and 4, Paposh Nagar, Golimar, Rexer Lane, Orangi Town, Korangi Industrial Area, claimed at least 17,000 phone lines were out of order, in some cases, for as long as six months. They also protested that the PTCL was not redressing their complaints as their localities housed low income groups and as such had no clout to exert influence on errant officials. They said they were left with no alternative except use cell phones.

A PTCL official when asked about the matter said the optical fibre network in various localities had been damaged, but said only 9000 lines were out of order. He said various civic agencies during civil works in Landhi, Korangi-1, EPZA, Garden, Lines Area, Lyari and Hawksbay exchanges had been damaged during the last few days. The PTCL has lost Rs12.1 million due to the damage caused by civic agencies like Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Site Limited and Karachi Water and Sanitation Board (KWSB).

He said the PTCL would claim Rs50 million from these civic agencies and letters had been sent in this regard.— A Reporter