LAHORE, Aug 19: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has asked telecom operators to suspend their services in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Multan from 8pm on Sunday till 11am on Monday for security reasons.

A directive issued by the PTA says: “In order to help law-enforcement agencies to improve the security situation and to avoid any untoward incident in different parts of the country including provincial capitals, mobile services will be required to be closed from evening 19th Aug to morning 20th Aug. Therefore, all mobile operators are requested to be ready as the area names will be communicated at a very short notice.”

Sources said the PTA had taken the decision on the orders of the interior ministry.