PTCL would be shifting to 8 Digits from 7 Digits

Since some time now, it was being heard that PTCL woudl be shifting land line from 7 Digits to 8 digits to increase the pool of numbers available. Earlier in April and March they did the testing on some of the exhcnages in Karachi by adding '3' before the actual number and after the area code like '02134111111'. This is official now where Media and News Paper confirmed it. is now confirmed as reported by different media channels and news papers. Link for one of the news paper Business Recorder follows.

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) would shift its fixed line numbering plan from 7 to 8 digit series as per the instructions of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Initially migration from 7 series to 8 digit series would take place in Lahore and Karachi.

As per details, Digit “3″ will be added in all existing 7 digits numbers of Karachi and Lahore except the numbers starting from “9″. Digit “9″ will be added in all existing numbers starting from “9″. An important point to remember is the numbers are being added to existing numbers not area codes, with the exemption of army exchanges, which would remain same.

For the customer’s awareness and facilitation, the new series plan will run parallel to old one for a period of three months w.e.f. July 1, 2009 till September 30, 2009. The period from October 1, 2009 till December 30, 2009 will be covered by announcements which would be made in order to facilitate subscribers/ customers.