PSCA to discourage hoax calls

Punjab Police to take action against prank callers

LAHORE:

Punjab Police have decided to take action against those making hoax calls on the Emergency 15 Helpline.

According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), 200 top hoax callers were being warned about their illegal activity every month.

Despite the warnings, those making unnecessary calls on 15 would now face FIRs and trials.

The 15 Emergency Helpline is a free service by the government for the convenience of people in distress.

Those who keep it busy by making unnecessary/hoax/fake calls would now have to face the law.

According to the details, over two million calls were received from all over Punjab on emergency 15 in May, out of which 222,816 calls were genuine, and immediate police assistance was provided. Among the calls received, one-and-a-half million were irrelevant. In May, 10 people, including children, were reunited with the help of the PSCA Lost and Found Centre.

Meanwhile, 134 motorcycles and five vehicles were handed over to their owners. The spokesperson said that inappropriate use of 15 delayed relief to citizens in critical situations, and it was a punishable offence. He appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary calls to the 15 Emergency Helpline.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2023.