ISLAMABAD (APP) - The Telecom sector performed well in all its spheres during the past two years as the overall teledensity increased from 58.7 per cent to 63.5 per cent while total Foreign Direct Investment recorded at $ 2.25 billion in this sector. As per the statistics available with this news agency, the ministry of Information Technology and Telecom and its attached departments performed well and overall growth was witnessed in the ministry. Despite inching towards a saturation stage, the telecom sector received US$ 1.43 billion in year 2008 and $ 815 million in the following year - 2009 as Foreign Direct Investment in different projects in the ministry and its attached departments. The total internet users of the country rose to 19 million with total broadband users rising to 413,809 million. Total direct and indirect jobs in the telecom sector are 1.36 million. During the past two years, the total phonelines increased from 94.695 million to 103.801 million with mobile lines increasing from 88.019 million to 97.58 million, almost 59.6 percent upward slide, while the fixed lines declined from 4.416 million to 3.526 million, almost 2.2 percent downward slide. The democratic government, after taking over in February 2008, came forward with policy reforms and policy directives for the telecom sector for year 2010. Under policy directives, class regime for value-added is going to be introduced besides the introduction of policy framework for launching Mobile Banking solutions. It was also decided to redefine framework for deployment of Cellular Jammers. Checking of anti- competitive behaviour of the incumbent with respect to availability of network resources and co-location service for the new Land Line (LL) operators. It was also decided to introduce Equipment Identity Register (EIR) regime to combat the threat of mobile handsets theft in larger public interest. Moreover, the closure of telecom services due to national security concerns also was agreed. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Dr Mohammad Yasin opined that Pakistans telecommunication sector was growing faster, even more rapidly than that of India with over 63 percent teledensity, encouraging the foreign direct investment (FDI). Look, India is lagging far behind Pakistan with 37 percent teledensity as compared to 63.5 percent in Pakistan. Pakistans FDI policy is much more liberal than that of India to attract more investment in Pakistans telecom sector, he added. The PTA Chief was of the view that the ever-growing teledensity of Pakistan is unleashing new vistas of opportunities to the foreign and local investors for better returns, especially in the field of data services. National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), Special Communications Organisation (SCO), Universal Service Fund Company (USF Co), National ICT R&D Fund Company (R&D Fund Co), Telephone Industries of Pakistan (TIP), Pakistan Telecom Employees Trust (PTET), and Telecom Foundation (TF) are the attached departments of the MoIT&T. The NTC generated revenue of Rs 4885.01 million during the past two years - Rs 2,317.23 million in 2008 and Rs 2,567.78 million in 2009 respectively. Total expenditure of the NTC remained Rs 3738.59 million during two years with Rs 1,739.28 million and Rs 1999.31 million in year 2008 and 2009 respectively. Rs 779.25 million was total profit of the company after tax paying. Under the NTC, 13,235 new landline connection were installed with network resource optimised with 100 percent efficiency using traffic analysis tool. UAN service was introduced in year 2009 besides installation of Centralised Network Management System for new switches. The NTC generated Rs.442 million revenue from its available resources - Rs 207 million in year 2008 and Rs 235 million in year 2009 respectively. Operational expenses were reduced from Rs 104.9 million to Rs 6.48 million - thanks to the installation of Network Optimisation system. Another Rs 20 million were saved in the operational cost of copper access network. Rs 66.43 million were the total expenditure by NTC during the past two years out of which Rs 33 million were used for coastal fibre project, Rs 11.33 million for hosting of GoP Portal and Govt Websites launching abroad, Rs 22.10 million for establishment of 20 video conferencing terminals at 18 important sites for government of Pakistan.