The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority simply known as PTA has temporarily placed a ban on popular battle royale game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), The Express Tribune reports.
The PTA claim they have received several reports that says the game is addictive, wastes time, and poses a negative impact on the physical and psychological well being of children.
"The PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of the children," a statement from PTA read.
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Last month, a 10th grade student was found hanging in his room after committing suicide. Beside the boy was a phone running PUBG gaming app, and his parents also confirmed to the police that they had stopped the boy from playing the game.
After the incident, a letter was written to the Punjab Inspector General of police (IG) to sought for a ban on the popular game. The letter claims the games is addictive and that excessive violence from the game triggers aggressive behavior among the youth.
The letter also says two incidents of suicide have been reported in the city.
Pakistan won't be the first to place a ban on the game nor is it the first country to record a PUBG related death. Last year, an Indian boy committed suicide after being scolded for playing PUBG. Another died of heart attack after playing the popular battle royale game for six-straight hours.
PUBG has been banned in the Indian state of Gujarat and Nepal too has a ban on the game for having "bad influence on children."
Last year, Jordan placed a ban on PUBG citing "negative effects" it had on its citizen, though the ban has been lifted.
A hearing has been scheduled for 9 July, 2020.