Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) makes a wiser move

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have made a very wise move of withdrawing from their decision of banning 1,700 word-ban list from text messages. The ban list made to the news on November 14, 2011 and was also studded with normal everyday usage
words such as cheque, pregnant, Jesus Christ or taxi.

According to PTA orders, the ban list was distributed to the Telecommunication Operators, so that they could block every message from reaching its recipients, if it contained any one of the forbidden words in the list.

The idea was nonetheless a stupid way of imposing control over communication through texting and gained nothing but an even more stupid image of Pakistan in the eyes of the rest of the world.

In their attempt to control obscenity, PTA itself added to obscenity, that too blatantly. The list offered by PTA intrigued everyone one to drive dirty meanings out of everything and anything, be it as simple word as taxi, but there was a hidden tale attached
to it.

It was not only restricted to just that but with the inclusion of words such as Jesus Christ, the minority religious sections within our country, felt disgraced. This should not have happened because it is against the basics of religious tolerance which
should not be hammered at any cost.

The ban-list is under revision process and there is another release of almost 40 words expected. I am hoping against all hopes that it never gets finalised because it will only make Pakistan, the laughing stock of the remaining world.     

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=4877

Posted by sara.anwar on Nov 27 2011. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry