*ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 174social media accounts for promoting the content against the ongoinganti-polio drive in the country. *
According to BBC, 130 accounts of Facebook, 14 accounts of Twitter and 30video blogs of Youtube were blocked by the authority.
Social media giant Facebook Inc. also assured that it was “fully committed”to the safety of Pakistani users of its platforms and was taking steps toreduce misinformation about anti-polio campaigns as Pakistan makes a finalpush to eradicate the disease, Arab Newslink reported.
The focal person of polio eradication in Pakistan, Babar Atta,had requested “Facebook’s management to block and/or manage thedissemination of such anti vaccination propaganda from their platformsoperating from within Pakistan”.
Polio vaccination campaigns have faced stubborn resistance for years inPakistan. Lately, Peshawar was gripped in panic in late April as rumoursspread like a wildfire that the anti-polio vaccine had caused children tofall ill and faint in several areas of the city.
It was reported that at least 700 schoolchildren fell sick after poliovaccination in Peshawar causing an attack on a hospital in city by an angrymob.
Later, the mishap turned out to be a ‘pre-planned’ conspiracy against theanti-polio drive by the committee who was tasked to probe the matter.