MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Digital Federal Ombudsman Regional Commissioner Informal Resolution of Disputes (IRD), Mansoor Qadir Dar stated that around 50 percent of cellular problems have been resolved.
If one network does not work within the area or the tower can not support certain networks, we shift the users to other networks, which resolves the issue, the Federal Ombudsman stated in the interview.
Additionally, Federal Ombudsman Regional Commissioner Informal Resolution of Disputes (IRD) Mansoor Qadir Dar has said that they are working to improve mobile and internet services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Mansoor Qadir Dar, they have received around 400 complaints about cellular companies. Our team does not handle the complaints holistically, rather, we tackle problems within a specific area.
Our effort is to work on how the capacity of an institution can be improved, and if it is not improving, then the reasons should be found out, Mansoor Qadir Dar stated.
The Federal Ombudsman Regional Commissioner said that the primary reasons for poor services are the lack of optical fiber by telecommunication companies and the non-provision of Universal Service Fund (USF) by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council.
While talking to Kashmir Digital, he further added that when the Universal Service Fund (USF) Pakistan was created, the council said that we will do it ourselves, but despite creating everything, they did not spend a single penny.
He stated that apart from SCOM, no other company has fiber optic in Azad Kashmir, resulting in slow internet speeds.
“Cellular providers have NOC issues for optical fiber, for which the Chief Secretary of Azad Kashmir is working on a one-window NOC to resolve this issue,” he told reporters.
Furthermore, he added that the Universal Service Fund (USF), a subsidiary of the federal information technology ministry, installs towers in areas where telecom companies don’t operate due to high expenses and low income.
He further said that the Azad Kashmir government is working with USF to improve services in remote areas of the state. “If NOC and USF funds for fiber optic are obtained, the service problems will be almost resolved.”
In addition to that, Commissioner IRD said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is the regulatory body of mobile companies, and we seek answers from them.
He encouraged citizens to file complaints regarding federal agencies operating in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and emphasized that the Federal Ombudsman’s office is committed to addressing grievances and improving services.
“The Federal Ombudsman processes complaints within a strict timeline, disposing of applications within 60 days, with an initial processing period of 45 days and a review period of 15 days after registration,” Commissioner IRD Regional added.
To a question, Dar said that since the establishment of the Federal Ombudsman’s regional office in October last year, 1,400 complaints have been registered, with 950 disposed of.
Zonal Director PTA Muzaffarabad Nasir Khan was also accompanying the Ombudsman IRD.
