The residents of Shangla different union councils have demanded of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and concern authorities to provide them with the internet facility at their respective villages PTCL exchanges because they faced severe problems due to non-availability of broadband internet services.
The Shangla youth and businessmen doing online work told The Northern Post on Tuesday that there were a number of PTCL exchanges with luxury buildings at best locations but had no outcome to the local communities where they had submitted applications for the broadband internet services but they failed to installation of the services for the community.
Shangla has 740,000 population according to the 2023 census and consisting of six tehsils where except major areas only a private cellular network is providing cellular services and internet but its internet is often extremely poor and even does not connect a call and have to attempt several times.
Fazal Rabi is a businessman in Ghorband Basi area said a fully furnished and wide space PTCL exchange was exist in Dehrai area for the local people which was previously used to provide telephone services but it had become dysfunctional and employees get huge salaries but neither providing internet services which was now a key service of the PTCL company in Pakistan.
He said they had submitted several applications for the broadband connection because the poor cellular network disrupted his online business of Visa, Tickets booking work.
He added that the exchange employees replied him making fun of his application that why they should get engaged and put themselves in troubles, mental problems by installing broadband internet services in the PTCL exchange as they were passing a relaxed life and internet was a headache.
Sanaullah Khan, a local resident of Belkanai said despite the existence of proper building and towers the Belkanai PTCL exchange was not providing internet facilities to the local consumers.
He said over 80 percent population of the Kana tehsil had been kept deprived of the broadband internet service and local people were using cellular network internet but that was too slow which had forced the local youth on migration to Swat and other major cities for smoothly doing their online work.
Ziaudin Khan is medical practitioner said due to non-availability of fast internet they had to visit Shahpur bazaar for Easypaisa and other online payment transfer to their loved ones study in the major cities.
He said a private cellular network had become a mafia they even ignored the complaints of poor internet services and calls problems they lodged.
He added that provision of internet facility to them was their basic right and government should ensure its provision to them so that they could easily use its benefits like the cities people enjoy.
The general manager of PTCL was approached by this correspondent for his version but he did not answer the queries regarding the issue.
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