PTA first issued the directive on November 4, 2012. PHOTO: FILE
A letter from the PTA Director General Muhammad Talib Dogar reminded relevant authorities of a PTA Directive from Nov 14, 2012, which instructed all operating companies to quit offering chat packages "contrary to moral values of the society".
Dogar noted that voice and chat packages were, however, still operational in violation of the policy and should be terminated immediately and a compliance report submitted in this regard.
The letter said:
"Keeping in view the foregoing, all Cellular Mobile Operators are hereby once again directed to immediately stop all kind of chat packages (Voice and SMS) irrespective of time of the day and submit compliance by Sep 2, 2013."
COMMENTS (115)
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Finally, the time has come... ban on ET is our ultimate goal
Good decision There is no need for these ridiculous all night free packages/sms. use a land line if you want to talk to your family. How long does it take to say hello in a call.you can use internet and use services like viber or skype when at home. and you can talk for days
good step indeed im sure peoples around here aren't happy thats fine no one really care about them. in fact every one of us knows the side effect of these packages specially in youngsters. i saw many of them around didn't get even 3 hours of sleep at night because of these packages which greatly effect mind and behavior. thats why i totally voice my support for this decision..
I personally think that there is nouse of these packages except creating social disturbances in society . i know many girls stepout from their homes with their friends due to these shameless message packages and voice packages. Another thing that we are going awy from each other for example on any occasion we donot care to go for invitation or to inform any body simply we write few lines and transmit them and our responsibility goes. i have seen many boys and girls that they are so busy in messaging that they canot see around them.these package are totally diasater and if remain in force they will make our society like easteren society.
useless step ..
This is a stupid decision, I don't see anything wrong in Gf/Bf texting .. have you people ever considered they may be allowed to do so? .. not all families keep the opposite gender from interacting .. this is foolish .. In a country where its okay to have Indian culture being "inspired" in our society ..kids are adapting what they see on tv .. We as a democracy should be given our right to communicate to whatever ever gender we want .. texing is the basic means these days not just for some couple but for, parents, sisters, brothers .. this is a foolish and out right wrong decision
pta should stop internet skyp these are kinds of evil we can voice chat video call on net i thnk pta frst off all stop these
not 7th century....to cave yard and stonage....down with Ganjaas @Eddied:
everyone doesn't have access to internet @Aneek Alam:
You can't stop anyone to use mobile phone for bad purpose. Why you taking this action even you know that a smoking person can't stop smoking even you increase the price of cigarette. I think PTA's this action will bad effect on those people that is using SMS or Call Packages for business Purpose. Mostly website are also using these Sms packages for their SMS Server on Website. PTA should think about for those that is using packages for business Thanks
Unfortunately, mobile call and sms packages are the main reason of separation between me and my wife. And currently i know about at least 20 cases in my surrounding where mobile packages are destroying the life of newly married couples. I am thankful to PTA for this act. When i was in Canada i used to think before sending message because it cost nearly a dollar and in Pakistan 1 dollar means you can talk whole month and send unlimited messages. Actually this west technology is being miss used in Pakistan, one should use standard rates to call and send message, this will help our nation to concentrate more on their actual work and will let Pakistanis to grow at better rate than now.
Pakistani govt so poor ...so they find better way of source of income ...
@Batool: i agree with u batool...
moral value??? hahaha.. i lived in uk and using tmobile they give me 7000 cross network minute and unlimited texts plus unlimited internet plus unlimited landline p/month..y not in pakistan???in a very cheap price sorry to mension they gave me free of cost phone also...so what else left? so many people knows that and if they workout it comes a lot cheaper as compare to pakistan..its policy to increase income mates..and u know that lion is hungry from last 13 years, and according to them KHAZANA KHALLI HAY JEE so who gona fill it up,,me and u guys
unblvabl.......... ahh.... what type of managmnt v have... there r so many other issues in pakistan...
According to my information this decision has been imposed by PTA itself,as it is an independent authority Government/ any ministry no consent has been taken by the Federal Govt. in this regard according to sources
For those who have been using the facility positively but are a minority because those who misused have caused all this trouble. Had you raised voice for misuse, this situation could be avoided.
Napoleon Bonaparte. "The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of good people.".
I don't know why the people has this mentality that the packages are only used by 1. Girlfriend and boyfriend talk 2. Gossips of friends 3. Useless forward messages etch I agree they are used for this purpose but not everyone in the country use it for this. People who want to use these packages for this purpose can have many other alternative ways to waste their time or whatever. They have internet. But what about the other people? 4. The ones who talk to their dear ones living in other cities? 5. People who have business and have to deal hundreds of people through mobile calls in a day. 6. Students like me who have to arrange the classes, tutorials and other stuff and have to inform all the other fellows and the teachers everyday? 7. People who have to call for any other important purpose, to get to know about someone or else?
Why PTA is becoming so mean and senseless at this point of time when the world has progressed to such an extent that communication is no more a problem anywhere. Who says that the foriegn countries donot have any packages like this? They do have!!! Approx all the countries. Please wake up!
There are positive and negative aspects of everything, but we cannot neglect the positive ones because of them. Get mature my nation. Think of the right things and the benefits you are getting. Widen your thoughts.
You pay 30 rs for every 100 rs recharge, why do you want to have the calls and msgs also expensive and taxed? Why?
We as students atleast are not that rich to spend 1000 rs a week or might be less days for this service. PTA should talk sensible! Or other wise go for 3g and 4g please PTA. Make yourself that much eligible and worth to talk all this. When we will have the substitute of viber and other social apps we will not blame you or ask you to stop the packages. You have already made it difficult for people to live in this economic condition. We are already starving everyday, for water for cng for many other resources. Let us live!!! Its better to ponder upon improvement plans than to get down!
Thankyou.
@JD: Because they have 3G and 4G LTE there so they can use other services well. But here we have no alternative. If you have to finish one facility than introduce another one.
Nothing is bad in this world but it's use
@Thor: ""…when will Pakistan grow up…: Pakistan was founded for such "MORALS"in view. So do not ask us to GROW :-)))
@iftekhar hussain: Pakistan is not mad, but government... as govt changes but not people
Much the best,excellent and august decision taken by PTA because by excessive SMS and calls' packages mobile was being used in negative and harmful manners/sense on large scale mostly by obnoxious calls and messages instead of in proper and positive usage and this step had to taken very early before now by PTA when telecos were starting the these calls' and messages' packages because in the other countries of the world telecos don't launch such these types of time and money wasting packages as telecos have been doing in Pakistan.....
@Fahad Still nowhere near the variety that is found here.
bad decision by PTA
PTA takes its own decision. No involvement of Government or any Ministry.
Wow it's a pity that PTA think banning sms packages will bring the youth of this country back on moral track. Seriously where are your moral police insticts when nangay Indian naach are on TV channels? Kids can watch that too. Why isn't there a ban on morally loose Indian films being shown in cinemas? What is next? Ban in wifi? Whatsapp and skype?
Seriously now ? If it is the girlfriend/ boyfriend relationship they are so concerned about then those even existed when the cell phones weren't even there. Even then people used to elope, have affairs and what not. People who have to do these things will do it despite whatever one does. Besides don't we have much bigger problems to concentrate on then passing such stupid policies?
wrong decision...takEn by PTA...PTA shoulld change their decision
What else younger generation is supposed to do ? They are like youth of every country. Moral values encompasses much more than chatting . It includes honesty, politeness, respect for fellow human beings , respect for personal space and privacy . By banning one thing you are restricting the use of same for many useful things . Instead of banning sms packages why use of sms for educational purposes is not advocated or instead of banning youtube , the use of youtube for education can be taught in schools.(E.T : I hope you publish this comment ) Like Shakespeare has written ....
Crabbed age and youth cannot live together: Youth is full of pleasance, age is full of care; Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather; Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare. Youth is full of sport, age's breath is short; Youth is nimble, age is lame; Youth is hot and bold, age is weak and cold; Youth is wild, and age is tame. Age, I do abhor thee; youth, I do adore thee; O, my love, my love is young! Age, I do defy thee: O, sweet shepherd, hie thee, For methinks thou stay'st too long,
its very bad.... sms call packages are way communication.... also use for usefull purpose .... why i vote muslium league n ....
PTA is doing wrong as a result of this act mobile usage will be reduced which will ultimately reduce Government's own revenue.
PTA authority hai.. kuch bhi decision le sakta hai.. Govt ka is main kia dakhal?
The should end the night package I would agree to some extend, they can even put ban on the type of vulgar ads. But this is insane, come now too much of nonsense...
This happens when businessmen rule the country.
Smart geniuses running this country,Thanks God for raising me in this country.
Next Ban will be on Facebook.Come On PTA!!!! Every good thing has miss-use.......
GREAT News. Specially for all Mums. :P
Why not ban ELECTRICITY & move back from Computer age to Metal age.
whay ptcl provids lots of voice packages ?????????
@Nabeel Warsi: now a days almost every one has a smart phone with Wifi and almost 60-70% people have wifi access.start using viber and whatsApp. Seriously 60 70 % have smart phone n use WiFi ???i think round about 25 30% have smart phone n have the access to internet.
@Aneek Alam: Dude not everyone has a smartphone or internet wi-fi connections. It is never about the elite
Glad I wont be receiving stupid forward messages from here there everywhere. it will restrict the usage to what it is meant for
what i think is people at the parliment just koin their heads to think hard on how can we disturb the lives of people of pakistan. they dtrategise it. one team finds out in what area, the people are happy, the other team finds out what they use stay happy and comfortable then they find out ways to japerdise the cause of their comfort and happiness then they pass a resollution to stop that. but before passing a resollution they take help from the ministry of douchbags to find a stupid reason to do so. Really? coz the directives from nov 2012 were suppose to stop night packages which really explains and goes with the resolution. but this? shame on the PTA director
How about banning co education system, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, parks, cars, bikes and any other thing so that opposite genders may not be able to interact.
Good decision, while so called fascist liberals are frustrated since the opportunity for the masses to go astray is reduced, what these so called humanitarians want them to follow.
Yes indeed it's a very good decision besides government should also make strict policies regarding Internet Browsing.
If they want to stop, then do so only night packages, not day ones. That will maintain the moral values as well as good business for consumers and companies.
it is the first good decision of government from 11 may 2013
Hello Pakistani government! Stop the corruption; eliminate system of feudal, weapon culture, heron smuggling, sectarian violence, food mixing, value to the law, illiteracy, begging relief from other agencies. These are the biggest chronic threat to my loved country. Discontinuation of SMS package is not the solution chronic threat.
TOP such decisions
now a days almost every one has a smart phone with Wifi and almost 60-70% people have wifi access start using viber and whatsApp
My business cost just rose up by 5 % because of this.
Very Good Step ...
Where we are living ?i think we have to buy pigeon,i mean world going forward and our stupid leaders of this country brinigng Pakistan backward.hopeless leaders
I don’t know how much this decision will affect the moral values but somehow it’s not a bad move that at least people thumbs will get some rest.
So what about Whatsapp? You can send as many messages as you like using it or other such apps. Are they going to ban internet on mobile phones? How are they then gonna auction 3G? Alright, internet banned on phones, people can still chat using their PCs, laptops, tablets using google chat, skype, msn etc. Are they going to ban the internet altogether to save " the moral fabric" of the society?
@Nasir Zuberi: practice what you preach...mobile packages is a threat to values but not bribery, hypocricy and hatred towards minorities?
Finally one of the good decisions by a public department. Govt. should take immediate action to cancel all the voice packages, from which the whole young generation is suffering.
PTA is challenging basic human rights. And also, how on earth are foreign supposed to feel secure if this keeps going on? Instead of introducing 3G and 4G networks, our government is focusing on extremely trivial matters.
As someone whose last phone bill was 23 rs I don't even use my phone for calls but more as as internet device but what about the majority of people who don't have at have smart phones.
I know my driver's family lives in a far flung area. He uses every means possible to call his children the cheapest way without a landline as he never is in one fixed place. He certainly can't afford any internet packages.
Amazing what our greedy policy makers want to do to make money to cover up their own money laundering ways.
I was going to comment about the absurdity of a telecom regulator banning pricing plans (found all over the world) due to "moral" reasons but then i realized..... i live in Pakistan.
BTW PTA whats stopping the 3G auction? Moral reasons ala not getting enough kickbacks?
No Problem, You are living in the world where SMS via Whatsapp and Call via Viber is Free. :D Just keep your Internet package updated.
Enjoy,
Unbelievable stupidity!!
The Chinese masters are leapfrogging to 21st century and Pakistan is leapfrogging to stone age
@Sohail: Not everyone has expensive phones that support WhatsApp
good step
@Abbas Khan (Rawalpindi):
I seriously doubt that they will give out refunds even if it is unearned revenue on their part. They will not incur losses from their own reserves simply because the government banned something. It's a pathetic approach to something that is not even an issue amid all the crap that's going on in Pakistan.
If no one is talking - what's NSA guys going to listen to? There jobs will really get boring.
@JD: You must be joking dude! I have Sprint in the US with unlimited text and internet. Don't know what world you live in.
One more step to push Pakistan in 19th century. Keep it up. :-)
Time to switch to viber and whatapps!
Hasn't our country got bigger issues to deal with rather than the 'life threatening' sms/call packages? It's an absolute farce. We worry about what other people are doing and what our women are wearing rather than focussing on the real issues like poverty, unemployment, terrorism, extremism etc. A big fat NO from my side to these self proclaimed 'saviors' of the 'Land of the Pure'. rolls eyes
strong textTalktime packages can be stooped to save moral values and charges of text packages be enhanced.
I have yet to understand that what threat the ways of communication put on the moral values ?? Are they banning sms packages because the boys & girls send sms to each other ???? Well they do & they'll continue to do it without packages even ... Will they ban the sms & call facility after that ???? Will they ban the postal services on the same ground ??? What a joke really , moral policing in 2013 !!! Mulla & mullah minded politicians & bureaucrats will keep attacking our civil liberties unless we have an aware society , But again how can we have an aware society if they keep blocking the means of communication ?????
Preposterous! anyhow, Viber & Tango are there. I hope they won't ban using a *WiFi Router* at home.
sure man why dont we all go back to the stone age @Nasir Zuberi:
How about banning the internet now? People stay up all night and chat "immorally" with their friends.
So now communication is a violation of moral values? Why not ban the cell phones, "the root of all evil"
i brt this will be over soon when peopel get on roads PTA have no right to do it if they really want to terminate the packages then introduced 3G network or 4G network.....the governement should have noticed on this issue...
Good job now no one will bid for the 3G license. With the blockage of youtube (main source of 3g revenue ) and random laws I guess we shouldn't expect any more investment in the telecom sector.
Dont compare our society with Britain and other developed countries, they are hardworking nations working in offices, universities etc with a clear goal. Our youth is on route of self destruction, unlimited texts and calls with girlfriends & boyfriends and hours of internet surfing is now resulting in horrible pass ratio in exams. This year, Gujranwala and lahore board had around 125,000 students each who could not pass 9th class exam, what a pathetic state of our youth. Stop these un-necessary packages only directed towards youth, they are supposed to study, not to keep gossiping on mobiles.
No call/SMS packages. I suppose data packages will be next and even 3G/4G will not be implemented as it would help speed up chats and Skype talks.
The Government should concentrate on improving health, educations and living condition of the people and decreasing crime. They should stop meddling in private lives of the people. Only then Pakistan can be prosperous nation
@TheOne
Maybe I too should adopt our country’s true moral values like corruption, tax evasion and fraud.
"I totally agree with the fact when all people can access not only YouTube" but other sites which are banned in Pakistan they are quite accessible. I don't know what on earth this new government wants? Moral values I feel like laughing. Where are the moral values when the private channels of Pakistan show Indian Award Function on the first, second and third day of Eid. Is this what you call moral value? Moreover in the UK they have facility of text messages and free minutes to talk. PTA director must think once again. All mobile companies will get bankrupted. 70% of people use Facebook from mobile. Even Facebook will get effected by this.
Frankly I am laughing hysterically after reading thing and also thinking that we are back to stone age aka FLINT STONES (cartoon) if some one remembers that.
Ok so A) some people actually use these packages to talk to relatives, and share stuff without losing their moral values or crossing limits or anything.... B) how come PEMRA seems to take no action on obscenity thats increasing on our television/movies?
If PTA wants, they can manage it in proper way instead of banning it... Like the peak and off peak hour thingy ... Or something... Unless they want to promote use of viber, whatsapp, skype etc which is definitely going to effect moral values...and nxt thing you will find out is that they are banned too... Hence you will be send back to the early '90s where there was only one phone in home and computers were means of typing documents and playing games ...
Lolz... None of you are seeing the big picture...
They have to increase Tax Revenue one way or the other to get more & more loans from the IMF.. in absence of flat rates they are going to make hafty tax money to show big bosses some progress... :)
It's Ishaq Dar... Who knows how to skim cream from skimmed milk ...!
This is only a half hearted attempt. If the PTA are serious, they should ban mobiles and landlines outright to ensure the country's moral values are not undermined by boy/girl talk or atleast develop a software to intercept any call where two interlocutors are from opposite sexes. While we are at can we do something about TV and the Internet please.
lol great decision :D no more boys and girls chatting senseless things all night long
Whats the big deal?
More people turn to whatsapp type services. Get GPRS/EDGE Connections. Bigger deamd for mobile internet. Bigger userbase would help get bigger money in 3G Auction.
And morals? LOL. How about that 2500 wala 'cinema phone'? Well, whatever the reason, this would bring bigger money when 3G Auction happens. If ever it happens.
I sure hope this doesn't mean my annual 1000rs SMS package will be cancelled without refund. I rarely send like 5-10 sms a week but i got the annual package just for convenience as you forget to renew the weekly package and end up burning all your balance with the default 1rs/sms charges.
Some of us don't actually use SMS for teenagers-like things. Let us be!
@JD: Yeah it's called unlimited talk,text and 4G internet.....where unlimited means unlimited. Can't believe we have such nitwits in PTA.
Whatsapp, BBM, Skype etc etc....So they plan on stopping these aswell for "moral values of the society" ?
This is unfair.These chat and voice packages were what made mobile phones a cheap and convenient source of communication for the masses.Once these packages are terminated and with the taxes already there it would cost much more to call or text.
And by the way who gave PTA the authority of moral policing the entire nation?
Just when you think that it won't get any absurd...
How your Going to check what they are talking on PHONE... you peoples like to be laughing stock...
@JD
In UK, you can have unlimited texts for just £5 a month. do you have anything to say now?
Another giant leap backward to the 7th century...when will Pakistan grow up...
Bring 4G and take away packages. good deal i think and people wont make hue and cry coz u will return them 4G
Not sure if Pakistan Telecommunication Authority or Maulanas against Yahoodi Sazish association. oh and why not just ban all means of communication while you're at it
WOW.. Ridiculous beyond belief.
Fair enough. Nowhere in the world do they have packages like the ones offered here in Pakistan.
Excellent decision. Allah bless Mr. Dogar, American. Entire nation and mostly young generation went Off Track because of this money mounting approach of Telcos. I suggest PTA should charge heavy penalty for violation.
Chalo. Increased profits as people will run out of balance quicker. Don't they know that people don;t just use these packages to talk to their girlfriends/boyfriends but other purposes to. I have to send hundreds of text messages to people daily just to ask where they are
they all gone mad
Soon National Assembly is going to pass a resolution to rename Pakistan to LaLaLand.