FAISALABAD, Jan 28: Construction work on various roads have left hundreds of telephone connections out of order in the city.

The National Logistic Cell and other contractors are currently working on several road projects, causing a great deal of inconvenience to the PTCL subscribers.

The city's main telephone network has recently been damaged owing to carelessness of the NLC staff and other contractors engaged in construction of roads and drains near the University Road, Bilal Road, Katchery Road, Circular Road, Jail Road, Club Road and GTS Intersection.

The PTCL staff has failed to repair cables properly due to which people have to put up with cross-talk and other faults in connections. Several telephone subscribers complained that they were facing difficulties in getting the required numbers dialled, which was hurting them financially.

When contacted, a Faisalabad Telecommunication Region spokesman confirmed the reports of faults in the telephone network. He said the main problem had been created due to cutting of underground wires and damaging of cabinets from poles by the contractors of development agencies during road projects.

He claimed that a number of telephones had been rectified, but admitted that a comprehensive replacement of network was required to completely rectify the system. He said special teams had been constituted to rectify the faults without further delay.

CAMPAIGN: Range police DIG Chaudhry Sajjad Ahmad has directed his subordinates to launch a vigorous campaign against proclaimed offenders, court absconders and other criminals in February to keep the law and order situation under control during Muharram.