According to a press release, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 75 Sims for good who were involved in creating false alarms. This bold step was taken after National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) recommended PTA to permanently block 75 Sims of the spam callers who were misusing the Counter Terrorism Helpline 1717 facility. Spam callers were generating false alarm for the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
The primary reason for establishing the helpline of NACTA 1717 was to assist and facilitate any complain or potential terror threat. After an individual lodges a complaint, there is an extremely quick response from LEAs as they then work to save human lives. Such false and junk calls only left them in despair especially when there wasn’t any sort of incident that they were informed about.
NACTA along with PTA took the step of blocking the Sims since the limit was crossed as some bad eggs repeatedly tried to hamper the productivity and effectiveness of the facility by displaying irresponsible and childish attitude. Plenty of warning messages were also sent to the spam callers before blocking their Sims permanently but the spammers did not pay much heed and continued to harass NACTA 1717 by making number of calls.
When the water level went above the head, NACTA contacted PTA to take the issue further and after mutual agreement 75 Sims were blocked permanently of those individuals who made 50 plus unsolicited and unwanted calls on the helpline of NACTA 1717.
NACTA also urged all the users to make a fair use of the facility. The helpline is established only for the people of Pakistan so that they can be taken care of at difficult times. Being the resident of Pakistan, it is our primary responsibility to showcase responsible attitude and we must not support or encourage the spam calling of such or any other helpline.