New Delhi: Government today (March 13, 2004) allowed roaming facility on mobile phones for Pakistan for a period of four months, apparently in view of the ongoing Indo-Pak cricket series.

"We have allowed roaming on mobile phones for 4 months only on experimental basis and the experience will be reviewed on June 15," Communications and IT Minister Arun Shourie told reporters.

He said that the Sunil Mittal-owned Bharti and Hutch would be in a position to offer roaming services to their subscribers within a day or so.

The Minister, however, said that such a facility would not be extended to Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern regions.

When contacted, AirTel spokesperson said they have already inked a bilateral agreement with MobiLink, the only GSM-based mobile service provider in Pakistan and AirTel's customers would be able to avail both voice and SMS facility with immediate effect.