LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take action on complaints against unwarranted promotional text messages and calls.

Justice Shahid Jamil Khan was hearing a petition by a citizen questioning rampant text messages and calls by various companies for the promotion of their businesses.

PTA Communication Director Muhammad Shafique appeared before the court, but failed to come up with satisfactory answers to the judge’s queries. The judge observed that mobile phone users frequently complained about receiving promotional text messages from water tank cleaning service providers daily from multiple numbers.

The PTA officer stated that there was no mechanism to control such text messages.

However, the judge observed that the PTA could take action against the mobile numbers used for sending unnecessary promotional text messages and calls.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the mobile phone users faced a great hazard due to unwarranted text messages and calls. He said the PTA being a regulatory body should be ordered to ban such promotional activities on mobile phones.

Justice Khan adjourned hearing till July 19 and hinted at summoning the PTA chairman if action was not taken on the complaints.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2019