The Flood Relief Blog

Pakistan is yet again hit with a natural calamity. The recent rains and following floods have severely affected life in various parts of Pakistan. The disaster is immense, hundreds of thousands of people are displaced (IDPs) and still many missing with casualties increasing daily. Numerous remote areas of the northern regions; Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province are completely drowned in water.

As the needs of IDPs seek support, telecom operators have responded to this call of humanity and have pledged funds for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affectees. Telenor Pakistan committed Rs. 100 million where as Mobilink and OTH (Orascom Telecom Holding) have pledged Rs. 85 million.

In this hour of need, where millions have been affected by devastating floods across the country, Telenor Pakistan stands by its brethren. We will contribute through donating funds, offering our telecommunication services and volunteering our collective employee efforts towards the rehabilitation of the affectees. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and the destruction caused by recent floods. We are sure that this humble effort will help those who need it most.

Aamir Ibrahim
Chief Strategy Officer and VP Corporate Affairs, Telenor Pakistan

In addition to committing funds at the company level, Mobilink has also set up a short code to enable Mobilink users to contribute Rs. 10 (plus tax) by texting “Flood” to 616 or deposit donations to Mobilink Foundation account (account # 0401-0028266-0001) by visiting any NIB branch. Mobilink has also set up a salary fund to enable employees to donate towards this cause.

This is a national tragedy that requires each one of us to respond with support that is tangible and urgency which is critical. As one of the largest private sector organizations in the country, Mobilink has always been at the forefront in supporting our fellow citizens in times such as these. We have an experienced team who have been a part of Mobilink’s efforts in the 2005 earthquake, Balochistan floods and more recently the IDPs Relief efforts as well as a generous employee and subscriber base that makes us ideally positioned to deliver effectively.
Rashid Khan
President & CEO, Mobilink

[via PRs]

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The recent rains and resulting floods where at one hand had left many displaced it has also caused severe damage to the infrastructure of the areas. The telecom infrastructure is also badly hit.  Long Haul optical cable linking the BSCs and BTSs in the northern side are most is cut leading to disruption of the services. The PTA press release gives out details and the areas

The catastrophe of the recent heavy rains and floods has seriously affected the infrastructure of the telecommunication services in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa (KP).

The areas worst affected as far as the telecommunication infrastructure is concerned includes Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsada, Mardan, Swabi, Swat, Dir, Malakand, Kohat, Jahangira, D. I. Khan and Timergara.

The main reason behind this was the fiber optic cut of M/S PTCL and M/S Wateen Telecom between Kohat – Bannu, Lawrancepur – Mardan, Peshawar – Kohat, Bannu – Karak, D. I. Khan – Shehbaz Khel, Taxila – Nowshera, Abbotabad – Taxila and Peshawar – Mardan sections. Due to this a total of 53 Base Stations Controllers (BSCs) and 2703 Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been affected at Peshawar, Nowshera, Dir, Mardan, Charsada, Swabi, Jahangira, Swat, Bara, Timergara, Mingora, Bannu, Kohat, D. I. Khan, Kurram Agency and Khyber Agency.

Though the restoration process of services was a gigantic task in the wake of heavy floods and access issues in the affected areas, however, the backbone service providers and mobile operators, in compliance with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s instructions, made their utmost efforts and chalked out scurry plans. Eventually, a total of 43 BSCs and 2239 BTSs have been restored so far. Remaining sites are being accessed by the technical teams and shall be restored as soon as possible.

In this regard, Director General (Enforcement), PTA, Mr Yawar Yasin visited the Zonal Office Peshawar where all service providers informed about the status of current telecommunication infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa and have also shared the future course of actions for repair of the damaged sites. After having seen the ground situation and getting update from all telecom service providers, DG (Enforcement) directed them to complete the remaining repair work at the earliest.

Via PTA PR

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