The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has made the decision to implement a crackdown on individuals who make fake, hoax, and irrelevant calls to Emergency Helpline 15, following the receipt of over 724,000 such calls in April 2026.
A spokesperson for the PSCA stated that legal cases will be filed against those who misuse the emergency helpline, noting that authorities have pinpointed the top 150 hoax callers and have begun legal action against them.
The spokesperson mentioned that fake and unnecessary calls make the helpline busy, potentially delaying timely responses to genuine emergencies, describing the situation as alarming.
Additionally, he mentioned that the PSCA is issuing callback warnings across Punjab to nearly 200 irrelevant callers each month to spread awareness about fake calls and encourage responsible usage of the service.
The spokesperson also stated that Emergency Helpline 15 is a complimentary public service offered by the Punjab government, and its misuse is a punishable offense under the law, warning that strict measures would be enforced against offenders.
He urged citizens to use the helpline solely in emergency situations to guarantee quick assistance for those in need, adding that the PSCA operates continuously to provide immediate responses through advanced technology.
Punjab forms first ever virtual women’s police station
Earlier, the Punjab government established Pakistan’s first virtual women’s police station, where women can register their complaints with ease.
Since there were a lot of reported incidents of women facing harassment in different places, the Punjab government decided to take necessary steps to protect them.
One of these steps included the establishment of a virtual women’s police station. It is important to note that it is Pakistan’s first virtual women’s police station, which has been established in Lahore.
Read more: How to file complaints online at Pakistan’s first virtual women police station
