Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has 'temporarily' banned popular online video game Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) across the country, after receiving multiple complaints that highlighted the adverse effects of the online game.
"The PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of the children," a statement of the authority said.
It added that cases of suicide attributed to PUBG game have also been reported in media reports. "Honourable Lahore High Court has also directed the PTA to look into the issue and decide the matter after hearing the complainants. In this regard, a hearing is being conducted on 9th of July 2020."
It was reported that last month, a 10th grade student had committed suicide in Lahore's Gulshan-e-Abbass Phase-II. The boy was found hanging in his room. The police also spotted a smartphone beside the body with the PUBG game app running on it. Later, his parents also confirmed to the police that they had stopped the boy from playing the game.
After the incident, a letter was written to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP), seeking a ban on the popular online game. The letter was penned by SSP Liaqat Ali Malik on the instructions of CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed. It mentioned that the online video game has devastating impacts on the mental health of the youth and two incidents of suicide have been reported in the city.
"The PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of the children," a statement of the authority said.
It added that cases of suicide attributed to PUBG game have also been reported in media reports. "Honourable Lahore High Court has also directed the PTA to look into the issue and decide the matter after hearing the complainants. In this regard, a hearing is being conducted on 9th of July 2020."
It was reported that last month, a 10th grade student had committed suicide in Lahore's Gulshan-e-Abbass Phase-II. The boy was found hanging in his room. The police also spotted a smartphone beside the body with the PUBG game app running on it. Later, his parents also confirmed to the police that they had stopped the boy from playing the game.
After the incident, a letter was written to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP), seeking a ban on the popular online game. The letter was penned by SSP Liaqat Ali Malik on the instructions of CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed. It mentioned that the online video game has devastating impacts on the mental health of the youth and two incidents of suicide have been reported in the city.