PTA in collaboration FIA has detected & dismantled 73 illegal gateways

PTA in collaboration FIA has detected and dismantled 73 illegal Telephone gateway Exchanges.

Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar on Friday informed the National Assembly that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has detected and dismantled 73 illegal gateways which were being used for long distance calls.

Replying to a Calling Attention Notice raised by Raja Muhammad Asad Khan, Nisar Tanveer and others regarding increasing grey trafficking, he said that the PTA and information ministry were fully cognizant of the issue. PTA has a strict monitoring system to check illegal means of long distance calls.

He said that 43 local and six foreigners were arrested so far in this regard and cases were pending before the courts. The minister said that around two billion minutes were used through illegal gateways.

Raja Ahmad suggested the matter should be referred to the Standing Committee of the House concerned. The minister endorsed his views and said he has no objection to refer the matter to the committee.

Published in TheNews (June-18-2011)