PM’s directive to eliminate illegal betting companies

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has directed all departments concerned and agencies to put forth their best efforts to eliminate surrogate betting companies operating in Pakistan.

“The prime minister has taken notice of the emerging illegal surrogate betting companies operating in Pakistan and has directed all the relevant agencies and departments to take immediate action for the elimination of these companies,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi said when approached by The News.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pemra, Ministry of Interior, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and others have been instructed by the Prime Minister’s Office to take immediate action to stop more than 150 surrogate betting companies illegally operating in Pakistan, said Murtaza Solangi.

“After thorough investigation and research, we were able to unmask these betting companies, and now no tolerance will be shown,” said Solangi.

It is pertinent to mention that The News has recently reported PCB’s refusal to recognise these companies as surrogate betting companies.

The PCB told The News that time will decide the fate of their agreements with such companies, as nothing has been proved till now against them.

They also said the government has not directed them but advised them only to terminate agreements with surrogate betting companies.

The News has also reported that during the PTI government, NOC was given by the PCB to Dafa News, and their ads started to appear in Pakistan’s cricket. Today, more than 150 betting companies have infiltrated the country.