ISLAMABAD: Women demand setting up of separate counters with female staff for verification of sims at franchises to avoide inconvenience.

"We have to wait for long and face trouble in communicating with male staff", said Sugra Bibi a resident of slum area of G-7.

She said there is too much rush at franchise and men do not give them way to approach the counter so they have to stand behind and wait for hours.

Sugra said, "I am ignorant women and do not know how to give thumb impression", she said adding, "there is no women staff at Aabpara franchise of the network under her use and she cannot get assistance from any male staff member for the correct impression."

She further said her brother is also reluctant to allow her to visit franchise which is full to its capacity with men.

She added that she visited the office with her mother early in the morning to avoid rush.

"We have four sims on the names of female members of our family and I am the only one who went for verification of sim due to no female staff member at the franchise", she stated.

Naila Fakhar, an employee of a private organization said, "I visited a franchise ten days back and requested closure of the sim but constantly receiving message form `789' on another sim of same network under my use saying, that number is also registered on your name, reply for its verification.

She said when she contacted the franchise office again, staff members said they have forwarded their request and rest is company's responsibility.

Asad Sohail, an employee of a cellular company network said, "We try to  facilitate women but not allowed to misbehave with any customer", adding that males are not ready to leave the counter and pressurize us that they have to reach offices so facilitate them first.

APP