Post by Karim Khan
‘Do you have balance in your cell phone?’ is the question that more and more people are facing this in Peshawar every day. This question comes from a number of different people, especially from taxi drivers, and if the answer is ‘Yes’, the next thing he/she receives is a request for allowing to make a short call on his/her cell phone. This new kind of ‘beggary’ is spreading in the city and disturbing passengers and others in general on a daily basis in Peshawar.
Most frequently, such requests for using cell phones are made by taxi drivers who ask the passengers about their cell phone balance. Out of altruistic feelings, or just bound by social obligation, many passengers concede the request and let their cell phone be used for making a call or sending a text message. This is bothersome for the passengers, especially when they see that the requested call was not that short after all.
But taxi drivers are not the only people indulging in this kind of beggary; rather, people from other walks of life, including students are accustomed of asking for free calls/messages. The bothersome aspect of the issue is certainly not about friends or acquaintances but from people who are entirely strangers.
These requests also come from people who happen to be seated at the same table in a restaurant or café. Since refusing outright is generally considered harsh or niggardly demeanor, the addressee has to lend his/her cell phone even if it feels highly undesirable.
There is also a concern about the sharing of one’s cell phone number with a stranger. Cell phone services show the number of the caller/sms sender on the recipient’s mobile phone. Thus, lending someone your cell phone makes you vulnerable to receiving uninvited missed calls, calls, or text messages.
In addition, given the alarmingly high incidence of crime and terrorism in the country, there is always the risk of getting your cell phone in unsafe hands. The public needs to be educated on his issue and cell phone companies should create awareness against cell phone beggary.
Via Insta Blogs
I faced the same when a taxi driver from Peshawar asked me to allow him to call. I luckily survived that guy.
Also, Pashto speaking taxi drivers in Karachi were using this way to call their friends to certain location and then looting the person. I heard about that a lot, So be on safe side and never let any taxi driver to call (until and unless he or she is your in FnF list).
LOL-I faced the same request by someone from Peshawar. I luckily survived him.
Adding to the above-Sometimes taxi drivers ask for their partners to come up and loot the passenger
I do agree with you, one should not give his cell phone to any stranger to make a call or sms not only in Peshawar, but in any part of the country, as we all are well aware of current circumsatnces(illegal activities and terrorism) of our country. Even cell phone giving person will not be taking part in such kind of activity but for one time he/she could must face some trouble by law enforcement departments/agencies.
‘Do you have balance in your cell phone?’
No i don’t have any balance. End of story.
Or if he requests blance transfer,just ask his operator and tell him that you’re not on same operator.
Another way can be is to be proactive and as soon as you get inside the taxi and have told him your destination, ask him if he has credit in his cell phone as you would like to talk to somebody ;)