PTA silent over SMS packages suspension

KARACHI - Several mobile phone companies have stopped their different kinds of SMS packages to avoid the intense load emancipated from the rush of calls and messages near Eid days, it was learnt on Monday.
A number of mobile phone users complained that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the regulator of the cellular companies in the country, has miserably failed to take any action against this closure of the SMS bundles by the mobile phone companies ahead of Eid.
They expressed their disappointment over the partiality of the official regulator towards the telecom companies, remaining just silent over their unjustified practices to block their SMS packages on any special occasion. They said that Mobilink has blocked 'SMS bundles and it will continue till Dec 2, on the pretext of expected load on Eid days.
Similarly, Telenor, according to its website, has already said that SMS packages offer will remain suspended for seven days, including three days of Eid-ul-Fitr, three days of Eid-ul-Azha and one day of new year. The users of these companies connections have lamented that they were never informed prior to any blockage of SMS bundles. Hunzla Usman, a mobile phone user, said that when he called his companys costumer service centre to get information regarding the suspension SMS Packages service, they told him that SMS bundle service will remain closed by 2nd of Dec, as they were upgrading the service. He further said that it seems that PTA authorities have given up their efforts to keep the cellular companies fully prepared to continue their all kinds of SMS Package service on Eid days. He said that Telenor had blocked its 'SMS bundles on last Eid.
Mobile phone users observed that text messages have now become their basic need in this fast age when majority of people have stopped sending Eid cards through postal service and depend solely on cell phones and inter-net. They said during Eid days millions of text messages are shared through cell phones.
It is to be noted that a total of 660 million text messages exchanged between mobile users in Pakistan during last Eid, despite the fact that Telenor and Mobilink both had blocked SMS packages.
According to the website of Telenor, 'All Bundle/ Discount/Bonus Offer subscriptions shall not be valid for Special Occasions. The Nation tried to contact the PTA authorities to get their view point in this regard but they did not respond.