ATM Closures
On Saturday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued an important clarification regarding false rumors about the closure of automated teller machines (ATMs) across Pakistan.
The PTA’s statement was a response to widespread misinformation circulating in the media and social platforms.
According to the PTA, the rumors suggesting that ATMs would be shut down were entirely unfounded.
The telecommunication authority emphasized that there were no issues related to the availability or potential closure of long-distance international (LDI) networks that could impact the IT or financial sectors, including ATM operations.
The PTA specifically addressed the false claims circulating about the possible disruption of ATM services and assured the public that these claims were baseless.
In its statement, the PTA clarified, “In response to the fake news circulating in the media about the potential closure of ATMs, it is confirmed that there is currently no issue of non-availability or closure of LDI networks that might affect IT or financial sectors, including ATM networks.”
Additionally, the PTA noted that operations of LDI licensees whose licenses had expired were neither suspended nor shut down.
The clarification from PTA came after a banking consortium, which oversees the country’s major e-payment gateway, also refuted the false reports concerning ATM closures.
The consortium urged the public to disregard the misinformation and consult their banks for accurate information and guidance.
Furthermore, Noor Ahmad, a spokesperson for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), had previously addressed these concerns, labeling the claims as false.
Ahmad referred to the consortium’s statement, which also debunked the reports circulating online.
The spread of fake news about a supposed “ransomware attack” prompted warnings on WhatsApp and social media, advising people to avoid using ATMs and online banking services temporarily. This hoax generated unnecessary panic and confusion among the public.
The PTA’s statement serves as a reassurance to the public that ATM services remain unaffected and that there are no current threats to the operational integrity of ATMs in Pakistan.
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