From: imran@panix.com (Imran Anwar)
Subject: Re: E-MAIL TO/FROM PAKITAN...INFO. NEEDED?
Organization: IMRAN: Information & Media Resources, Affiliations, Networks
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 05:35:06 GMT

In <1993Jan23.195123.26808@cs.wayne.edu> bmb@pandora.cs.wayne.edu (Amir M. Baig) writes:

Dear Baig Sahib

I hope I can asnwer some of your questions below.

Regards

Imran Anwar


>I want to find out about how to use internet or any other 
>network services in Pakistan. 

>I have following questions:

>	1. What hardware resources are required? i.e.(80xx/80x86)?

*ANY* computer that you have communications software for, including, but
not limited to PCs and compatibles, Macs, Ataris, Commodores or Amigas
etc.  Of course you do need modems and it is best to have an error
correcting modem because of occasional poor line quality in some areas.  


>	2. How to get communication software in Pakistan?

Use any comms program, eg Procomm, Telix, etc.  It is also possible
(and preferable) to get UUCP software (we can help with that in Pakistan)
that allows you to have your own "node" 

>	3. Who is to be contacted in Pakistan(Karachi) to get e-mail 
>		address?

I can answer your questions here (imran@panix.com) or Ashar Nisar (a9@btr.com)
can when I am inPakistan.  In Karachi people call 455-9448, speak with
Mr. Hamid or if they are connected to a modem register online.  They can be
validated and online in as little as a day to send and receive email.

>	4. What monthly or percall charges are involved?

Because the system is still be ing developed and continually improved
this information should be considered variable.  Currently we
are only charging for information costs that we are paying, while the
staff, office, equipment, effort etc are all costs borne by us.  The
idea is to promote the use of email.  Currently, the costs are about
Rs 500 or so for 30 messages.  However, these do change.

When you call the node in Karachi you do not pay any "per call" charge,
you do not pay for email within the city but pay for email to and from
any other citiesin the world.  We are still waiting for the applications
for ten lines to get thru PT&T [PTC] but are told that March isthe magic
month when anyone can get as many phones as they like (Inshallah)

If you want Lahore the modem numbers are 858500 (being changed to an 86
number soon I am told) and 830111 while you can contact my brother 
Dr usman Anwar at 830847.

The Islamabad location was shifted and the phone is still under shifting
Again, we have been promised "soon" and we are trying to use "contacts"
to get that done as soon as possible


>       5. Do the charges depend on bytes/message or esle?

Yes, the general message size is one page of text on your screen or about
2K of data.


>	6. Any one would like to share his experiences using

Because we do not want to limit the system in anyt way, we have allowed
other users to be on internet using the .pk domain address (of which 
Ashar Nisar and myself are administrators).

One such person / institution is SAHICS in Lahore

Someone there has mentioned that their costs are lower than ours.  If you
would like to investigate thjat possibility then please also feel free
to ask them.  

You can send email to him at

aslam@sahics.edu.pk

get the details about rates, access cities they offer, and how often
they upload and download mail (they use dial-up to UUNET I think while
we use a combination of packet switching, leased line, and dial-up)
and offer local call access in Karachi, Lahore, Sialokot and 
in Islamabad when the phone number has shifted.

>Answers to any or some of the above questions would be greatly
>appreciated


I hoipe this information is helpful.

>Thanks in advance

>Amir Baig


Imran Anwar

imran@panix.com