I was reading somewhere that if you want to go commercial, you can skip the PPL and just do the commercial training instead? don't knnow how true this is but sounds a bit bizzare to me?
The integrated routes (there are two) train ab initio. Most people take the modular route, which requires an ICAO PPL(H) beforehand.
I recommend downloading
LASORS 2006 as it will answer most of your licencing questions