Pakistan to cut BlackBerry services for foreign missions in country

Islamabad, Jan 31(ANI): The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is reportedly planning to stop all Blackberry services to foreign missions in the country.

"I can confirm that PTA has asked us to stop all BlackBerry services to foreign embassies and high commissions," the Dawn quoted a senior official at a mobile company, as saying.

Another industry official confirmed that his company has received the PTA instructions.

"All the operators have agreed to close all BlackBerry connections provided to them by January 31," the official said.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has been under pressure from the Pakistan government to provide access to data on its secure networks, as it wants to monitor the company's corporate email and messenger services.

BlackBerry devices use an advanced encrypted email system and are preferred by business people because of the secure communication they offer.

Several governments, especially in the Middle East and Asia, have been pushing RIM to provide access to data on the secure networks. (ANI)