LAHORE: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs), extended the free voice minutes service for residents of flood-hit areas.
The free voice minutes relief is in response to the devastating floods in Punjab, to assist residents stay connected and in contact in an emergency without any hurdle. By this initiative, even users with zero mobile balance can make calls.
According to reports, the measure was announced on August 30, 2025, taking into consideration the natural disasters and disruptions caused by floods.
The telecom operators, including Jazz and PTCL, have opened free voice minutes and call facilities to all networks, especially in areas severely impacted by the pandemic, such as Narowal, Sialkot, Wazirabad, Kartarpur, and Gujrat.
Earlier, Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs), in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), had announced free calls in flood-affected areas to support citizens during the ongoing crisis.
According to a press release issued here, CMOs are providing free on-net voice calls (same network) to subscribers in the affected regions. This facility is available even to customers with zero balance, enabling them to stay connected with their families and emergency services in this critical time.
The PTA stated that more than 72 percent of the disrupted telecom sites have already been restored. Efforts are underway to restore the remaining sites at the earliest.
It is worth mentioning here that a powerful flood wave in the Chenab River caused widespread destruction after hitting Sialkot, Wazirabad and Chiniot.
Rescue officials said that 135 villages in Jhang are underwater, with many residents trapped inside their homes. Rescue teams are working to evacuate them.
Traffic on Sargodha Road has been badly disrupted as two to three feet of water has submerged the route.
According to the irrigation department, a flood wave carrying one million cusecs of water is expected to pass through Multan by this evening.
Low-lying areas are likely to be severely affected. Heavy rainfall in Gujranwala, Wazirabad and Chiniot has worsened the flooding, destroying crops spread over hundreds of acres.
The situation in Multan has also turned serious as floodwaters entered farmlands in Shujabad tehsil, leaving 140 villages submerged.
In Muzaffargarh, authorities have warned of a very high flood in the Chenab River. Thousands of acres of fish farms are at risk of being washed away, prompting farmers to start emptying their ponds to reduce losses.
Internet services stayed suspended in many flood-hit areas of Punjab on Saturday, making communication difficult and slowing down relief efforts.
Read more: Severe flooding in Chenab River, situation worsens in Jhang, Multan: 275 villages submerged
