ISLAMABAD, July 23: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Friday announced to implement recent decision of reducing the charges of new telephone connections from July 20, instead of August 14.

"The decision to this effect has been taken to encourage more and more people to avail themselves of telecom facilities," a PTCL announcement said. Information Technology Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Saturday last had announced a new tariff package, which was to come into effect from August 14, to provide free late-night local calls and cut installation charges by 44 per cent and international call charges to Rs20 per minute.

Under the new package the installation fee for the new telephone connection for urban areas had been reduced to Rs750 excluding General Sales Tax (GST). While for the rural areas, the installation fee for the new telephone connection would remain at Rs500 without GST.

The PTCL said the cost of telephone set if provided by telephone utility would be Rs700, registration fee of Rs100 would also remain unchanged while the sales tax at the 15 per cent would also be charged on installation fee and cost of telephone set.