Kathmandu, Feb 4: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Parbat Gurung has directed employees of Nepal Telecom (NTC) to make it professional and competitive while stressing the need for its review and transformation.    

"A strategy should be made to establish it as a sustainable and permanent company by reviewing whether commitments to develop it as a leading company in the world have been fulfilled," he said while addressing a function organised here on the occasion of NTC's 17th anniversary.    

He also directed the employees to carry out infrastructural development activities of NTC in rural areas.    

Minister Gurung, also Spokesperson for the government, asked NTC to help achieve the government's goal of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis'. 

On the occasion, Hari Prasad Basyal, Chairperson of the NTC Board of Directors and Secretary of the Ministry, promised to resolve problems (if any) the company has and construct its towers. He also pledged for the implementation of NTC's bylaws and to address demands of the employees.    

Chairperson of Nepal Telecom Authority, Purushottam Khanal, urged the Nepal Telecom to provide quality service directly benefitting the people.    

On the occasion, medals were presented to 50 employees completing 20 years of service at the Nepal Telecom as well as business partner organisations.   

The organization, which has a glorious history of more than a century of the beginning, development and expansion of telecommunications services in the country, was transformed into a company on Magh 22, 2060 BS, has entered in 18th year.   

There are 20.9 million customers of the Nepal Telecom and around 70 percent population has access to any service of telecom.