ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The minister of state for information technology and telecommunications, Mohammad Raza Hayat Hiraj, has asked Paknet to prepare for new challenges posed by the changing telecom and IT scenarios.

While presiding over a meeting of Paknet management here on Friday, the minister urged the management to further improve services to facilitate customers.

“To cope with the challenges of 21st century proactively, we have to introduce latest technical solutions to pave the way for the development of IT products and spread of virtual education through distance learning’” he said. It is the right time to provide latest e-business solutions, he added.

Mr Hiraj underlined the need to improve the existing internet network on emergency basis to provide latest IT services to the customers at par with international standards. It will not only help boost the national economy, but will also increase customers confidence in the ISP, he added. The minister also asked Paknet to extend its services to all the tehsil headquarters so that even a layman could utilize internet and other related facilities.

He expressed his satisfaction over the pace at which internet services were being provided and hoped the number of cities connected to internet would further increase from 1,100. He also lauded Paknet’s role in facilitating educational institutions.

While briefing the minister, the Paknet managing director, Moin Sadiq Malik, said Paknet was the biggest ISP in the country, which provide data communication, Broad Band Internet on Wireless, DSL, and VSATs, WAN/LAN solutions, fax over IP and e- education services.

Presently, Paknet has 108,000 active customers out of total customer base of 600,000, while its total registered customers are 178,000 out of total one million in the industry, he added.

The managing director said Paknet had 34 Point of Presence (POPs), 7,500 ports, 43Mb bandwidth, while its turnover was Rs2.0 billion, which was a clear proof of its competency and business expansion potential.

The ISP is also providing services like data communication services (clear channel data links, frame relay and digital circuits on optical fibre cross connect system etc.), he added.

Meanwhile, the state minister also visited Carrier Telephone Industries (CTI) where he was briefed about various production wings. The minister appreciated the efforts of the CTI management for acquiring and developing a sophisticated technological base in the field of electronic telecommunication systems.

“The CTI is really doing a commendable job by manufacturing high-tech telecom transmission equipment required by the telecom industry of the country.”

The CTI is not only meeting the demand of telecom equipment in the country, but is also reducing dependence on foreign sources for repair, maintenance and supply of telecom systems, he added.