Sindh Moves to Block Mobile Sims of Unvaccinated Citizens
Amid fears of a fourth wave of the pandemic driven by the Indian variant called ‘Delta’; the country passed another grim milestone; with the national tally of the infectious disease since it first broke out in February 2020; crossed 1 million marks during the Eidul Azha holidays. Most of the new Covid cases have been detected in Sindh in recent weeks. In order to stem the trend and promote vaccination; the government decided on Friday to approach the federal government to block the mobile phone SIMs of those who had not yet received the vaccine shot.
“Sindh Govt has decided to write to NCOC & PTA that mobile sims [subscriber’s identity modules of unvaccinated people should be blocked;” Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, a spokesperson for the provincial government tweeted. Officials said that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had asked the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to communicate its proposal to the telecommunication authority; the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Murad further said that the salaries of those government employees; who had not got themselves vaccinated, would be withheld. In this regard, the chief minister directed the provincial finance secretary to contact the Sindh advocate general in this regard.
Government is proposing to temporarily block sims, #socialmedia of non vaccinated #mobile users in #Pakistan #KeepitOn pic.twitter.com/N5R890KgoI
— Arzak Khan (@arzakkhan) July 24, 2021
If @PTAofficialpk & @OfficialNcoc enforce Mobile Sims disconnection for unvaccinated, hesitancy for all age brackets & social classes will disappear overnight. So maybe start with those between 50 to 65, & gradually work down the age cohorts – obviously matching to vaccine supply
— Javed Hassan (@javedhassan) July 13, 2021
Furthermore, the provincial officials agreed to impose a ban on wedding ceremonies.
