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ISLAMABAD: Short Messaging Services ( SMS) is vital source of revenue for cellular companies and all cellular companies generated approximately 100 billion SMS in 2011.
This huge rise in the SMS traffic owes largely to the attractive and wide range of bundle packages being offered by all the operators.
Daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly and even unlimited packages are being offered at very low rates by cellular companies to capture potential of this service.
SMS is a vital source of communication, but the civil society looks concerned over these packages as youth is increasingly seen caught in amorous advances thanks mainly tocheap night packages offered by various Telecom operators in a bid to expand customer network.
The amazing part of this story is that almost all cable operators offer arguably cheapest call charges with almost entirely free Text messages offer with charges as low as 25 paisas by paying only nominal charges one can enjoy free talk on any number of one’s own choice.
Though there is a widely held consensus which cuts across all sections of society that Communication itself is not a bad thing since it helps people grow confidently and resolves issue besides providing opportunity to be in contact with loved ones.
Its extensive use among youth is a cause of concern for elders.
“The issue is not about call charges it is the negative use of the facility which bothers parents” said Najib Ahmad a government servant in communications department. If mobile packages are free, the youth especially the students can use it for their study purpose.
“By talking free the whole night they can make each other understand the difficult sums of science or physics or formula which they were not able to understand while sitting in the class”, he maintained.
He was of the view that the cheap communication is for the facilitation of the people and they can use it for positive purposes.
Contrary to this, the social circles showed their concern over the increased immoral activities and held internet, facebook, cable and the cheap communication facilities mainly responsible in this regard.
Naseem Ahmed who is a retired professor said,” I cant understand the useage of mobile night packages. What are they meant for and what these mobile companies want to communicate through these night packages.
Zehra, who is a house wife, also looked worried over the night packages offered by the mobile companies.
She said these offers of mobile companies like talk free from 12am to 5am are beyond comperehension.
“It looks these are the free offers for the youth to communicate anything with their loved ones. It not only will keep them away from the teachings of Islam but also from their studies.” She added.
