PTA Facilitating Relief Operation for IDPs
Owing to the reports regarding problems faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from NWA, lodged in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in getting financial relief through SIMs, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has stepped up efforts to facilitate the affected people. The Government has announced a financial relief as compensation to IDPs which was to be disbursed through mobile phone SIM cards. For this purpose, Zong (China Mobile Pakistan – CMPak) has signed an agreement with Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDA) and it is offering free SIMs to IDPs for seeking speedy relief in a transparent manner. In order to streamline the process of distribution of Zong SIMs among the IDPs, Dr. Ismail Shah, Chairman PTA, has recently sent a team to IDP Centers in Bannu and adjourning areas. These SIMs will be used for distribution of cash to IDPs. The PTA team conducted a comprehensive survey of these Centers and conveyed their findings to Zong for improvement. PTA has taken up the matter with top management of Zong and as a result of PTA’s efforts; Zong has provided a huge stock of SIMs for IDPs and also started to increase manpower dealing with the said operation. PTA team has also visited Bannu Commissioner Office to know the problems of IDPs. A process of constant follow-up and feedback has been arranged by PTA so that problems in distribution of SIMs to IDPs are minimized. The operation is being closely monitored by Mr. Abdul Samad, Member (Compliance & Enforcement), PTA.
