Mobilink partners with Tourism for Destination Pakistan-2007
'Pakistan Times' Monitoring Report

ISLAMABAD: Mobilink, Pakistan’s leading Cellular Phone Services Company and part of the Orascom Telecom group, with a customer base in excess of 22.5 million in Pakistan, today announced its joint venture with the Ministry of Tourism to promote Destination Pakistan 2007.

The government of Pakistan has officially declared 2007 as “Visit Pakistan Year”.

The signing ceremony took place in Islamabad and this handshake consists of establishing a softer, active and tourist friendly image of Pakistan via a healthy mix of events and activities organized throughout the year.

The central idea of this partnership is not only to attract more tourists but also to reinvigorate the local traveler to discover his/her very own vibrant country.

Zouhair A. Khaliq President & CEO Mobilink stated “We are pleased to promote tourism in Pakistan because not only is it our national duty and responsibility but an additional means to give back to the community with a true and sincere national spirit. I am sure other corporate organizations in Pakistan will also come forward whole-heartedly to support tourism in Pakistan.”

“Pakistan is a very beautiful country with a natural mix of sights and sounds; however, tourism facilities from the international tourist’s perspective need support and development.

Our association with the Ministry of Tourism will be to support features like cultural and social events, from time to time throughout the year. We are also in the process of facilitating tourists who will be visiting our Country's attractions to get instant updated information about the sights on their Mobilink phones via an integrated program in collaboration with the Ministry,” Khaliq added.

Ms Nilofar Bakhtiar, Federal Minister for Tourism, while appreciating Mobilink’s role in supporting events, stated “As Destination Pakistan 2007 is a national cause, and Mobilink has taken up the cause to promote tourism as a patriotic mission, they are a natural option to take up this challenge and support the Ministry in creating a new wave of excitement for people to appreciate the vast potential for tourism in Pakistan.

It is highly commendable of Mobilink to have shown sincere and patriotic dedication towards the promotion of tourism in Pakistan.” She also said “We are sure that this will create jobs and business opportunities in the tourism industry of Pakistan”.

The Federal Minister expresses the hope that other corporate and multinational companies will join in taking this mission forward.

Mobilink is the biggest telecom service provider in Pakistan with a network reach that transcends its commitment to reshaping lives in the country; the company has displayed its role in pursuing its corporate social responsibility in a variety of cultural, sporting and music events throughout the nation.

About Mobilink

Mobilink is an Orascom Telecom Group company and is Pakistan’s leading cellular service provider with a subscriber growth of 104% in 2006.

The company has achieved an unprecedented customer base of 22.5 million customers as of December 31, 2006.

Mobilink provides the most extensive network coverage footprint across Pakistan through an integrated technology infrastructure in more than 3,500 cities, towns, villages, and countless remote destinations, including International Roaming in 110 countries through 300 partner operators.

The company directly employs over 4,000 people and has the largest distribution network with 200,000 outlets across Pakistan.

Mobilink’s corporate social responsibility program contributes significantly in key areas of health, education, social uplift and cultural development causes in Pakistan and the company is the official cellular service of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Mobilink is the only corporate in Pakistan to issue a 'high-yield' bond worth US$ 250 million in the International Market and has portrayed a positive image of the country as a secure destination for business activity.●