ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to unban online game Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) after getting assurance from the company for a comprehensive control mechanism.
This was revealed by senior officials, while talking to Business Recorder here on Thursday. Sources revealed that the PTA asked for reducing the volume, not presenting it too bleeding, and certain age limit should be observed besides duration should be reduced. To these conditions, the company has agreed and the PTA has decided to unban PUBG in Pakistan.
Replying to a question, the PTA officials said the company did not have license in Pakistan to operate, so the country could not regulate it. With respect to registration, the official said that now negotiations had started and it was the first phase, once the company had representation in Pakistan they would go for registration as well, officials added. A meeting was held between the PTA and legal representatives of Proxima Beta Pte Ltd (PB).
Proxima Beta (PB) representatives briefed the authority on response to queries raised by the PTA with respect to controls put in place by the PB to prevent misuse of the gaming platform. The authority expressed its satisfaction on measures adopted by the PB so far, and emphasized on continued engagement and a comprehensive control mechanism.
The representative of the company welcomed the PTA's feedback on the issue and assured that the concerns of the PTA would be taken into account. In addition, the company requested the PTA to unban PUBG. Keeping in view the positive engagement and response of the company, the authority has decided to unban PUBG. Sources revealed that the government had temporarily suspended PUBG and sought details from the platform to bring it in regulatory framework.
The Authority had issued a detailed decision and asked the PUBG for some details. Further negotiations were underway with the PUBG for registration in Pakistan, the PTA officials added. Parliamentarians from government as well as opposition parties in the IT committee observed that blocking everything is not the solution to problems.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020