ISLAMABAD: The National Counter-Terrorism Authority’s (Nacta) helpline received 8,264 prank and irrelevant calls during the first 20 days of July, it was revealed during the department’s meeting on Thursday.

“The figures and data of calls received just in first 20 days of the month of July, 2016 shows that only 41 calls were legitimate and were actionable from amongst the total 8305 calls made by people,” the meeting was informed.

Participants of the meeting were shocked to know that in a country where war on terror is being waged, people are misusing such an important helpline for the sake of fun.

Nacta high-ups were informed during the meeting that cell phone SIMs of 75 frequent spam callers, who have called more than 50 times, will get blocked through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to discourage such hoax callers.

“By default, caller tune conveys them the warning of legal consequences for misuse of such an important helpline,” the meeting was informed.

National Coordinator Nacta, Ihsan Ghani, also made an appeal to the people to not get involved in such practices.

“Irrelevant calls are not only waste of precious resources of the government but it may end up in an irreparable loss of lives who may include members of their own family or friends,” Ghani said.

Nacta officials have decided to name the offenders in public, as part of a name and shame policy to decrease the number of prank and irrelevant calls.