All SIM cards to be registered under new plan: ATRA

KABUL Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) on Tuesday said internet prices would reduce and its quality improve with connection of the second fiber optic network.

Bilal Hashemi, ATRA deputy head, during a conference about government’s accountability to public here that all SIM cards would be registered under a new plan.

He said the internet price would be reduced and its quality improved once the second fiber optic cable was connected in Abrisham Valley (Silk Valley).

Currently only three companies work in connecting the fiber optic network and the process would be implemented in capital Kabul first and soon, he said.

He added 37 companies were fined and referred to the attorney general office for not registering SIM cards they distribute to customers.

“If the president approves ATRA’s new plan, all SIM cards would be registered based on biometric data”, Hashemi said.

Ministry of Hajj and Islamic Affairs

The Ministry of Hajj and Islamic Affairs also presented information to the accountability conference today.

Abdul Hakim Munib, acting Hajj and Islamic Affairs Minister, said that dedicated lands and Umrah services would be turned into revenue sources in future.

He said the ministry had improved its services and planned to recover land belonging it from grabbers.

Munib said the Saudi Arabia government had given a quota for 30,000 Afghan pilgrims for the next solar year, 1399.

An agreement has also been signed with the Passport Department for issuing electronic passoports to pilgrims, he said.

Ministry of Higher Education

Abdul Tawab Barakzai, acting higher education minister, said it they signed 106 agreements with universities of regional countries for improving the quality of higher education and reviewing the education curriculum.

He said his ministry published 97,000 educational documents and connected 95 universities through the internet.

mds/ma