Telcos Challenge PTA Order of Banning Night Packages in IHC

Aamir Pasha from Ufone said that we received the directive and have challenged it in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). We can’t comment on it because it is a judicial matter, reported The Express Tribune today.

PTA had ordered mobile phone companies to ban cheap, late-night calling rates because they allegedly promote vulgarity among young men and women.

The PTA said it asked companies to suspend attractive night-time rates in keeping with government policy.

Malahat Rab from PTA told AFP that they have issued the directive to all the mobile telephone companies to shelve night call packages. Members of parliament also demanded action. These directives are issued in the light of the government decisions and this decision has also been taken by the government. The step was taken after lengthy discussions.

Kalsoom Perveen from upper house of parliament said that these packages are not right for our youth and they strongly object to the night phone packages and recommended that the PTA either fix a time limit for this facility or ban it.

Shafqat Hayayt Khan who is an opposition lawmaker and sits on the information technology committee in the lower house, also backing the ban said that there is no doubt that these cheap night call rates packages are promoting vulgarity. We will make the PTA implement this decision.