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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Sunday announced free on-net calls for the people stranded in Murree due to heavy snowfall.
“In view of the emergency situation in Murree and Galliat areas, mobile phone users, currently present in these areas with no balance, have immediately been provided with free on-net calling facility,” the regulator stated in an official statement issued today.
According to the statement, all mobile phone operators in Pakistan would provide the facility to stranded users who have run out of balance.
“On the directions of PTA, cellular mobile operators have extended free calling facility on their own network to users, with zero balance, stranded in Galliat areas. Users may contact their concerned operators for more info,” the statement added.
The telecommunication authority assured users to be supplied with “uninterrupted services” to deal with the emergency.
“Moreover, PTA has also directed all telecom operators to ensure uninterrupted services to users and keep enough backup arrangements in case of power outages,” it concluded.
Murree tragedy
A day earlier, the army and the district administration had launched a massive operation to rescue stranded tourists in and around Murree.
To enjoy snowfall, tens of thousands of people thronged Punjab’s hill town of Murree but a large number of vehicles stranded in snow on Friday night and 22 people died. Eight of them froze to death in their cars and others probably died from asphyxiation after inhaling exhaust fumes in snow-bound vehicles.
On Saturday morning, the Punjab government declared the area in and around Murree calamity-hit area. The website of the National Weather Forecasting Centre said heavy snowfall was expected in the area until Sunday afternoon.
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed sorrow and grief over the tragedy, ordered an inquiry into the incident and asked the authorities concerned to put in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedy.
