ISLAMABAD, March 1: Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Maj-Gen (retd) Shahzada Alam Malik on Wednesday said that preparations are being finalised to launch the mobile number portability service from March 23.

Using the service, a mobile phone consumer would change his/her service provider any time while keeping the same number and code - unchanged.

“Pakistan would be the first country to have this pro- consumer service in the region,” he said while talking to journalists after a ceremony held here to sign separate contracts by Telenor Pakistan with Nokia and Siemens for the extension of its network and services.

The agreements, with a potential to result in $750 million worth of orders, are some of the largest of their kind in the industry.

He said the introduction of mobile number portability would ensure enhanced cellular services and bring healthy competition in the booming telecom sector.

Replying to a question, he said PTA has played effective role in paving way for the fastest telecommunication growth in the region. Gen Malik said PTA is ensuring that this growth continues unhindered and the authority is committed to become a facilitator.

Shahzada Alam said the telecom sector has contributed strongly to the country’s economic growth and added that the sector currently constitutes two per cent of the GDP, which is expected to rise to three per cent in the next three to four years.

He said Telenor, Nokia and Siemens have played a major role in terms of investment and technology. The agreements add to the telecom success story in Pakistan, he added.

Answering to another question, he said the cellular phone subscribers have crossed the unprecedented number of 50 million with 1.5 million subscribers joining in each month.

The number of telephone lines available to each hundred persons (overall tele- density) has risen to 35.4 per cent in December 2006 from just 3.66 per cent in 2001-02.—APP