PTA Issues Advisory to Telecoms Amidst Floods

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has released an advisory for telecom companies as several regions in the country grapple with severe flooding and landslides due to the ongoing monsoon season.

To address this situation, the PTA has established a National Emergency Telecommunication Coordination Centre (NETCC), according to the advisory.

The advisory instructs all telecom operators to activate their prepared contingency plans for handling emergency circumstances.

The PTA has mandated the continuous delivery of mobile and internet services in areas impacted by the floods. Operators have also received instructions to safeguard telecom infrastructure located in susceptible zones.

The advisory stipulates that the PTA Headquarters must be informed immediately should any major technical failures arise.

As per the PTA’s guidelines, operators are obligated to provide service restoration updates every six hours.

Mobile network providers are required to disseminate information regarding flood awareness and evacuation strategies to the public. The PTA has directed that essential emergency contact details and flood-related details be accessible in both national and regional languages.

The advisory emphasizes that priority communication assistance must be extended to relief workers during emergency scenarios.

It also suggests deploying temporary mobile facilities in areas affected by flooding wherever necessary.

The PTA has instructed local loop operators to activate their franchises within flood-stricken regions to effectively handle customer inquiries and issues.

The advisory added that teams should be stationed at top-up locations to address concerns raised by users.

The PTA has also directed the continuous provision of fundamental services, including SIM cards and balance recharges.

The advisory concludes by stating that qualified personnel should be assigned at both local and regional levels for operations in the field.