Exorbitant call rates for expatriates
PAKISTANI expatriates transfer almost $15 billion’s worth of foreign exchange every year to their beloved land. The money helps a great deal in keeping the balance of payments in control for Pakistan.
Pakistanis living overseas are connected to their country through telephone and the Internet. The spread of modern technology has reduced the distances and has turned this world into a global village. But it seems that Pakistani telecommunications authorities are not aware of this. It is very painful that calling rates have been increased to unprecedented levels, consequently making calls to Pakistan very expensive. If you ask the companies concerned for this unjustified increase, they point finger towards Pakistani authorities and hold them responsible for the increase. The so – called well – wishers of overseas Pakistanis are keeping mum on the issue and, therefore, further punishing expatriates for their support to their country.
I am writing with high a degree of sanguinity that someone would take notice of the situation and take necessary action in making these calling rates fair.
ATIF MAJOKA
Melbourne, Australia
I think PTA already cancelled the inremental in rates for overseas. read following.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-19269-PTA-cancels-high-calling-rates-for-overseas-Pakistanis
It is difficult to decide which is a worse choice for Pakistan. Both Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are the same. Even Imran Khan is more of the same. Pakistan’s only hope was Pervaiz Musharraf. During his time Pakistan became economically strong. It is the first time the Rupee gained against dollar. He allowed an independent media.
I don’t mind paying the extra US$1.00 on calling my country. We don’t pay any other taxes, our NIC cards and dual nationailty ensure (where applicable) we can travel visa free. An extra US$1.00 per call is just a minor hassle. I would feel a lot better though if there was less corruption….. IF YOU ARE LIVING IN THE US,UK,CANADA,AUSTRALIA,EU and an extra $ or half Euro/Pound is something you cannot afford, perhaps you need to evaluate your education,skills, and capability.
With the present government the entire government machinery including PTA has become incompetent. Head of all the departments are political appointments to please each other. PIA, Railways are glaring examples in front of us. These departments do not understand the concept of doing business in present world environment.
The western world is looking out to the sub-continent to out-source their business support means like call centres and customer care. Various international banks, tele-com, ISP worth million dollars businesses have moved to India due to their low costs. Where as our great wise people in the government have only targeted their own expats disregarding the business opportunity Pakistan could offer to earn.
The only hope to revive Pakistan is to out vote the present ruling party for good.
PPP Govt in Pakistan is deaf and dumb and faithfully busy in robbing the country of its wealth right and left, high loans and spending extravagantly. As a last resort, it elected to punish the overseas Pakistanis. The Court has allowed stay order but Govt has not reversed its notification of increase in the phone calls tariff. On Ads we see rate for India and Bangladesh is 2p per minutes and for Pakistan its 8p. If Govt does not reverse its decision, the best way for all of us overseas workers is to stop sending foreign exchange to Pakistan.
Lets face it, you are only sending remittances to support your family, because if paying 8 pence a minute is too much for you I doubt you are as successful as Indians are in the UK.
arey atif bhai,,,, kiss ko keh rahey ho yaar,,,,kabhe sydney aana toe mulaqat karain gey…
Agreed.. But this is the perfect example of good governance as our government pursue it from the last almost 5 years taking the country on the verge of distruction……….Yijae Bhutto….Pakistan Khappay