LAHORE: The theft of backup batteries from a Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) mini exchange, located in the parking lot of the Alfalah Building near the Punjab Assembly has caused a shutdown of telephone and internet services due to the lack of main power supply. This incident has affected thousands of businesses in the area.
The theft was discovered on Wednesday morning when the main power supply went out, and without the backup batteries, both internet and voice services ceased to function. Upon receiving numerous complaints, a PTCL team visited the mini exchange to investigate the issue and found the battery compartment broken, with the batteries missing.
Around a half-kilometer radius was left without telephone or internet connection until approximately 4 pm. The shutdown affected various establishments, including the Punjab Assembly, Daily Business Recorder, Aaj TV, and many businesses in the vicinity.
Arshad Mahmood, a shop owner in the Alfalah Building, remarked that he has been conducting business in the area for 50 years and has never witnessed such an incident. He noted that the system was down that morning, and later they learned the batteries had been stolen. He also pointed out that there were no CCTV cameras near the mini exchange, making the identification of the culprit impossible. Many businesses reported that the system shutdown severely impacted their online payment processes. Without internet access, they were unable to provide customers with options for debit card transactions and other online payment solutions throughout the day.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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