I wish to highlight the extremely poor mobile network services in the Loher Galiyat region of District Abbottabad (including Tharyati, Noormang, Namlimara, Phalkot, Bagh Bandi, Baghnotar, Pangora, Malsa, and Berangali). Despite the presence of all major service providers—Ufone 4G, Zong (China Mobile), Jazz, and Telenor—the quality of service has been virtually non-existent for the past three months.

Residents have been unable to make regular calls or access essential services such as WhatsApp, mobile data, or consistent internet browsing. At best, only intermittent SMS functionality is available. This communication blackout has severely affected students and freelancers, many of whom have been forced to relocate to urban centres, incurring financial and personal hardship.

Despite the lack of service, users continue to pay for monthly packages they are unable to utilise—an unjust and deeply frustrating situation for thousands.

We respectfully urge the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take immediate and decisive action. Either, suspend the licences of non-performing operators in the affected region until they meet required service standards; or compel Ufone, Telenor, Jazz, and Zong to restore and maintain reliable 4G/LTE services in the Galiyat region.

Connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Its absence constitutes a denial of fundamental rights in the digital age. We hope the PTA will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and ensure restoration of quality telecom services without further delay.

MUHAMMAD SAGHEER,

Abbottabad.