The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has launched a crackdown on individuals making fake, hoax, and irrelevant calls to Emergency Helpline 15, officials said on Tuesday.
According to a PSCA spokesperson, authorities have identified the top 150 hoax callers and initiated legal proceedings against them. Cases will also be registered against individuals found misusing the emergency service.
Officials said fake and unnecessary calls keep the helpline busy and may delay emergency responses for citizens in genuine need. In April 2026 alone, Helpline 15 received more than 724,000 hoax and irrelevant calls, creating serious operational challenges.
To reduce misuse, PSCA has started issuing callback warnings to nearly 200 callers every month to raise awareness about the responsible use of the service.
The spokesperson said Helpline 15 is a free public emergency service and warned that misuse of the facility is a punishable offence under the law.
PSCA urged citizens to contact the helpline only during real emergencies to help ensure timely assistance for those in distress.
Authorities added that the emergency response system remains fully operational around the clock with the support of modern technology.