ISLAMABAD, July 6: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has asked the mobile phone users to get the connections transferred to their own name, free-of-cost by July 31.

According to a PTA official the subscribers using cellular phone other than the actual owner will be deprived of their connection after the declared date.

He said: “It is illegal to use a mobile connection which is not in their own name. In this way criminal activities are easier to commit by an un-identified user and the use of mobile phone by other than actual owner carries security threats.”

The official said the person, registered as the actual owner of the cell phone connection, could block it off. The mobile phone service providers were offering the facility free-of-cost, he added.

The PTA regulates the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and the provision of telecommunication services in the country.

The authority also promotes and protects the interests of users of telecommunication services and the availability of a wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services to the consumers.

—APP