KARACHI: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) resumed mobile phone services in Karachi after a closure of about 10 hours on Monday, DawnNews reported.

The PTA, acting on the directives of the Interior Minister,  issued instructions to all cellphone companies pertaining to the resumption of mobile phone services across the city.

Earlier, mobile phone services were suspended indefinitely in Karachi whereas the blocked phone services were resumed in Lahore during the early hours of Monday, DawnNews reported.

Authorities had  blocked cell phone services in Karachi over security concerns and had also issued a notification to ban pillion riding in the city.

Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) sources told DawnNews that mobile phone services were suspended in Karachi at 2 am on Monday over security concerns until further notice and that no schedule was received regarding the resumption of services.

The sources added that mobile services would also be blocked along the route of Allama Dr Tahirul Qadri's long march from Lahore to Islamabad and that services would begin resuming in the areas once the march has crossed them.

Earlier on Sunday reports were received of cellphone service suspended for three hours between 7 pm and  10 pm in Karachi''s Clifton, Defense and I I Chudrigar Road areas.