KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced on Sunday that mobile service will be partially suspended in some areas of Karachi till 10 Muharram (July 29).
The telecommunication regulator said that the decision to suspend the services was taken on the instructions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
A number of complaints have been received as users claim that mobile service is affected at different times in some areas while others face complete outages.
The areas where mobile service was suspended or affected include Steel Town, Gulshan Hadid, Jafar Tayar Society, Malir 15, Future Colony, Dawood Chowrangi, Haji Zakaria Goth.
Meanwhile, service is partially suspended in other areas including Shah Latif Town, Bhataiabad, Memon Gotham Market and Bin Qasim Town.
The federal government has declared a public holiday on the 9th and 10th of Muharram (July 28 and 29) on the occasion of Ashura.
The notification issued by the Cabinet Division said, “For general information, the Prime Minister is pleased to announce a public holiday on 28-29 July 2023 (Friday and Saturday) on the occasion of Ashura (9 and 10 Muharram 1445 AH).
The 1st of Muharram i.e. the beginning of the new Islamic year 1445 Hijri will be celebrated in the country this evening (July 20), meaning Ashura Day will be celebrated on July 29 (Saturday).
Earlier, the Sindh government had banned double riding on 9 and 10 Muharram – under Section 144 of the CrPC – as part of several measures taken – so that activities on the days of Ashura could continue uninterrupted.
In addition, the federal government approved the deployment of armed forces across the country to ensure security during the holy month of Muharram.
