Mobile phone services partially suspended

LAHORE: In view of the security plan and religious processions to be held across 24 districts of Punjab, mobile phone services will remain partially suspended from Friday to 10 pm today in the sensitive areas of all districts.

According to sources from the Punjab Home Department, mobile phone service will only be suspended at sensitive locations where religious processions are being held.

It will be restored later at 10 pm. In Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Hafizabad, Gujrat, Narowal, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Chiniot and some other designated districts will be partially restricted.

Mobile service has been temporarily restricted at sites where religious congregations and processions will occur. Punjab Home Department stated mobile services will continue throughout Punjab, while only restricting them in certain areas.

It is not being entirely banned in sensitive districts either. Punjab’s provincial home department said its officials claimed they have temporarily limited the usage as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and security of people attending religious gatherings, including the majalis and processions to be observed today, August 11, by restricting the usage in sensitive parts.

It claimed mobile phone services would resume in Lahore and other parts of Punjab. Authorities also reassured people that services would go back to full operational service at the closure of the restricted hours, adding that people could adjust their communication accordingly, especially those who lived in and nearby sensitive regions where this would take effect.