ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a project to provide telecommunications and Internet facilities in rural areas.

Under the project, titled ‘Rabta Ghar,’ 400 telecenters would be established in the first phase. Each centre would be provided equipment worth Rs50,000 free-of-cost.

These telecenters would be given to unemployed youth who have at least done their intermediate. The candidates would have to arrange for a shop that was at least 12 by 10 feet. Rural women meeting the criteria would also be eligible.

A ‘Rabta Ghar’ owner would be able to earn approximately Rs5,000 per month.

The ‘Rabta Ghar’ (Telecenter) would be a small business setup that provides PCO, Internet, fax, printing and scanning services to small communities.

According to details shared by PTA here on Friday, individuals from villages and union councils having a population between 4,000 to 10,000 and where there is no public telephone or Internet cafe facility within a five kilometres radius, would be considered.

In Balochistan, applications could be forwarded at the tehsil level too. In case of more than one applications from a single area, the most suitable applicant would be selected.

In the project’s first phase, PTA would establish 400 ‘Rabta Ghars’ all over the country with the support of telecom operators.

Telecom operators have pledged their support to the PTA for setting up these ‘Rabta Ghars,’ while PTA will directly sponsor 125 of these.

PTA has also arranged for the free delivery and installation of equipment and training for centre owners, for whom a training manual has also been prepared.—Our Reporter