Kids Are Freaking Out After PUBG Got Banned In Pakistan

PUBG, short for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, an immensely popular, online multiplayer shooting game has been topping the charts around the world, including Pakistan. The game’s popularity has been unprecedented in the country with millions of active players.

While the online platform remains super popular among millennials and the Gen Z crowd, it has gathered a colossal amount of hate from the older population.

Boomers and even many in Gen X have often been cited on social networks calling out PUBG as an absolute waste of time for their kids.

#PUBG Ban this bloody game, wasting a lot of time of youth which can be spent in learning some skills, reading great books and exercise is still better this filthy game.

— 𝐂𝐡 𝐀𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 (@AatifMaken10) June 5, 2020

Things had begun to look particulalry bad for the game’s future in Pakistan when a couple of months ago a citizen had filed a petition in Lahore High Court demanding a ban on PUBG.

After hearing the case, the court had left it up to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to decide the fate of the PUBG.

Important ye nahi hai k Pubg ban ho raha hai, important ye hai k ye ban karne ka idea aaya kis k mind mai?

— Superman!! (@AyeItsAdeel) May 19, 2020

And now, in the light of numerous complaints, the state regulatory authority has “temporarily banned” PUBG in Pakistan stating it to be addictive and violent. The official statement also alleges the game to have “serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of children.”

PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of the children. pic.twitter.com/GDJqTeuTaf

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) July 1, 2020

Meanwhile, after hearing the news, PUBG players across the country are in a state of panic and are savagely bashing the government for its over-protective, desi-parent like behaviour.

If sarcasm were a tweet, this would be it!

Can't wait for Pakistan to look like this after banning #PUBG pic.twitter.com/UTZluZiBrs

— Saad Ur Rehman (@duckybhai) July 1, 2020

Guess, PTA is about to experience the wrath of online trolling firsthand…

#PUBG Players To PTA
right now: pic.twitter.com/t4xPqtWwRO

— Muhammad Usama khan (@usamakh12) July 1, 2020

#PUBG
My time line right now : pic.twitter.com/rRCiM6DX1e

— Zain Ansari (@zaynanxari) July 1, 2020

No parhai. No khail kood! What are the kids gonna do now?

Pubg with mosquitoes #PUBG pic.twitter.com/dXRh8L9H5P

— 🍁 (@konhoonmain) July 1, 2020

Critics of digital media regulations and censorship have also chipped in to call out PTA for casually linking the ban to a topic as sensitive and grave as suicide.

2/2 – It's classic 'escapism', i.e. to try & lose one's self in the virtual world to escape the grind of what they are going through in their real lives – & it could be any game, not just #PUBG.

I am going to yell the next time I hear someone say "#PUBG nay ek aur jaan lay li".

— asad beyg (@asadbeyg) July 1, 2020

You cannot take out our entertainment like this. How many people die from cigarettes and still they are being sold in stores why they are not banned? People who earn money from pubg or those who have spend money on it will go it depression and suicide

— Ali Raza Chaudhary (@AliRazaChaudha6) July 1, 2020

And while the kids are having trouble keeping calm, most parents can’t be more relieved…!

The ban is temporary and a hearing will be conducted on the 9th of July before making any final decision.

Breaking News: PUBG Banned in Pakistan

Parents Right Now 💯#PUBG pic.twitter.com/eNQ8QjnqaF

— Saqib Tweets 🇵🇰 (@Saqib_Tweetss) July 1, 2020

What do you think? Should PUBG be banned permanently in Pakistan? Share your views in the comments below!