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ISLAMABAD, June 15: Federal Minister for Information Technology Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Wednesday said security forces could now be withdrawn from the Pakistan Telecommunication Company installations as issues between the company management and the workers union have been resolved. “Rangers and police personnel deployed at around 130 out of the total 3,500 installations to prevent sabotage could now be withdrawn,” the minister told reporters after the launch of the National IT Development and Promotion Unit.
He said normality had returned to the PTCL and its operational network across the country was running smoothly with no disruption reported from any part.
Mr Leghari said the PTCL would be privatized as planned while every care would be taken to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
He said major PTCL union bodies had reached an understanding with the government and announced their cooperation while efforts would also be made to bring around the remaining bodies. The attitude of the union leaders towards the government changed after they realized that their interest had been protected under the relief package, he claimed.
Justifying sacking of some PTCL workers, he said the step was taken after their strike was declared illegal by the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC). He assured the workers who were not on strike that cases against them would not be pursued. However, he said, those still on protest would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He criticized the opposition for trying to cash in on a sensitive issue, adding that the PTCL’s privatization had been on agenda of all the governments since 1992. “The only difference now is that our government has been able to create a conducive environment for the privatization of the company.”
Earlier, speaking at the launching ceremony of the unit, the minister said information technology had become an integral part of our lives and the government was working aggressively to harness the IT power to benefit society.
Inadequate infrastructure, low income, lack of awareness about e-commerce issues, inadequate legal and regulatory framework, absence of trust and secure transaction services posed challenges to developing countries, he added.
He asked the newly-created think-tank to focus on legislative issues, development of local content, e-commerce and information security.
He said e-commerce would take time to be in full use in Pakistan given the lack of purchasing power and supporting infrastructure, but it is the ultimate option to reduce transaction costs in order-taking, customs processing, duty payments and cargo shipping, he said.
The minister said the government was aware of the security of transactions on the internet and a series of laws and regulations, such as data protection act and e-crime bill, would be introduced soon.
