ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) on Thursday announced that it has withdrawn the controversial circular of price hike in domestic leased line circuits used for internet and data services.

A press release issued by PTCL said: “Keeping in view the manifold increase in cost of service provisioning by PTCL and similar pressures faced by our valued ISP and DNOP customers and in consultation with PTA, PTCL being a socially responsible organisation has withdrawn its decision for price rationalization and will serve the ISP and DNOP customers at the earlier rates.” Last week, PTCL announced 450-700 per cent increase in prices of its domestic leased line circuits and the move invited sharp criticism from the ISPs and internet users.

ISP Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) assailed the move terming it unlawful, anti-competitive and appealed to Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) for immediate action against PTCL.

Source said PTA held closed door consultations with PTCL and asked the operator to withdraw the unilateral price increase as Ministry of IT, the top IT and telecom policy making body, watched silently over the fence.

Spokesman of ISPAK, Wahaj us Siraj, while talking to The News said: “We appreciate the decision of PTCL management to withdraw the price increase which could have led to doubling the prices of internet for the customers”.

ISPs were to be worst hit by the increase as they are the major customer of PTCL’s optical fiber leased data circuits.