This was stated by Ameena Sayiad, President Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry in an exclusive interview to ProPakistani.
Cellular phone companies have deployed their network extensively from metropolis to small villages, which showed the huge subscribes’ base that recently crossed 100-million mark, she said.
“This number of 100 million is huge, in fact it outnumbers the figure of 70 million TV viewers in the country. Hence, telephony services are very vital in diminishing the isolation of the people in rural areas and created a binding among people-to-people connection,” Ameena said.
“Thanks to organizations like USF, farmers in the far flung villages are enjoying facility of mobile phone services, which was previously impossible. In fact it took life times for individuals to to get wired-line telephone connections even in the major cities” she said while referring to the service affordability and accessibility of the people that made closer to each other while living at distant places.
She mentioned that the telecommunication network of Pakistan is tremendous and invaluable as compared to different other utilities such as electricity, gas and water – which are hardly available to people of Pakistan.
The multinational companies operating in the country now have opportunities to explore different urban and rural markets in the – thanks to the telephone services, which are easily available in nook and corner of the country, Ameena further said.
There is a lot of potential in oil and gas exploration and mineral minoning sector in Pakistan, while agriculture based businesses have tremendous potential in rural areas. All these business activities are carried out in deserted place therefore it is important to get connected with people by wireless telephones, which will further play a vital role in the business with the advancement to video-conferencing services.
President OICCI explained the contribution made by telecommunication operators to Foreign Direct Investment, Corporate Governors, Business Practices and activities of Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) in the country.
Cellular operators have landed substantial FDI in the country, which spurred economic activities and generated hundred of thousands of direct and indirect employment. They have also contributed heavily to relief activities for flood affected citizen in past year, she pointed out.
Telenor is a member of OICCI so far but different operators will soon be part of overseas chamber, she mentioned. “Currently, Nokia is taking interest to be member of one of the oldest and prestigious platform of overseas companies.”
The telecom sector has witnessed tremendous growth, made life of people easier and helped business achieving success, she concluded.
