Upper Chitral (Zakir Muhammad Zakhmi) — The Upper Chitral district administration has begun serious, practical steps to address the longstanding problem of poor mobile signals and internet service faced by residents. On the special instructions of Deputy Commissioner Upper Chitral Arshad Khan, an important meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sultan Nooruddin Ahmar, Assistant Commissioner Headquarters, Boni. Security guards posted at mobile towers, particularly Telenor towers, were called to the meeting, where the problems they face were reviewed in detail.
During the meeting, a formal pro forma was prepared to collect information about the performance and problems of each tower. It recorded the facilities available at the towers, battery backup, fuel shortages, and other technical and administrative issues.
Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Sultan Nooruddin Ahmar said the main purpose of calling the security guards was to understand the actual difficulties at tower level and find a lasting solution. He directed all the guards to submit written details of every problem at their towers so the administration could use this information to coordinate effectively with the relevant companies and help ensure the restoration of mobile signals and internet service.
Representing the security guards at the meeting, retired honorary captain Sher Azam identified their shared concerns. He said the company pays the security guards only 7,000 rupees per month, a very small salary, while the work is extremely demanding and requires them to remain on duty 24 hours a day. In the current period of inflation, it is not possible to make ends meet on this small amount, and their duty obligations also prevent them from taking another job. He added that the lack of battery backup at most towers and the untimely and incomplete supply of fuel for generators are major causes of interruptions to mobile signals and internet service.
Wi-Fi service in Upper Chitral is virtually unavailable, and students’ education, online classes, banking, biometric verification, and the work of settlement staff, along with government and public affairs, all depend on mobile internet. The district administration’s move has raised hope among residents that mobile network conditions will improve soon.
Source: Original Urdu story on Chitral Express.
Muhammad Nayab Khan is a seasoned Freelance Journalist, Media Professional, and Enterprise Development expert based in Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Holding an MBA in Finance from Punjab University, he brings a unique economic and digital perspective to media storytelling, corporate branding, and regional development. He maintains active professional affiliations with Qashqar TV (First PEMRA Licensed WebTV in Chitral) and Chitral Express (Chitral’s Largest News Network), where he contributes high-impact digital content, editorial visuals, and comprehensive coverage of regional socio-economic issues. As a multi-faceted entrepreneur and media creator, Nayab combines sharp investigative insight with advanced visual communication to highlight local narratives on regional and national platforms.
