In recent times, the life of the ordinary person has been plagued with many issues. Mobiles or cell phones, once a blessing, have become a nuisance with PEMRA sitting like a silent spectator.
The first problem is that if you do not receive easy load, or if you receive a message that the card you loaded (even after scratching it in front of the shopkeeper is) used, you will find no solace at any forum. The procedures for retrieval of money are so lengthy and tricky that one prefers not to go for it. In this regard, PEMRA should issue SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for all cellular companies mentioning a transparent method of returning money to subscribers.
The second problem is the inflow of countless advertisements filling your inbox. There is no bar, no check, no restriction from any side on these ads that irk you even at midnight. Your privacy is challenged too often.
The third and most frustrating is special offers from service provider always busy in alluring you to listen to music, news, know about your stars, film stars, change your ring tones,
ask for prayers timings, so on an so forth, trespassing your liberty and peaceful life.
The forth problem is computer generated calls from help lines of mobile companies enticing you to subscribe for different schemes. These calls not only waste time, but also leave most of people angry for disturbing them as these calls are being made without the permission of the subscribers.
Last but not least, bumper offers to win a car or similar luxurious prizes on using certain amount of balance in stipulated period of time has given impetus to many con artists in society who badger you through your phone and try to wring you out of phone credit.
The above horrendous situation calls for immediate remedial action on part of PEMRA to save time and money of billions of Pakistanis.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
