Words Banned in Pakistan Texting Rule Include ‘Lotion,’ ‘Tongue’

More than 1,600 words have been banned from text messages in Pakistan, including words such as lotion, tongue, period, and monkey crotch.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has banned certain words in the Urdu and English languages with a goal of preventing obscenities. PTA spokesman Mohammad Younis told The Guardian the ban was the result of numerous meetings and consultations with stakeholders, and added that nobody would like this happening to their young boy or girl.

The banned English words include lotion and tongue, The Guardian reported. Also banned are period, flatulence, and athlete's foot, the news Web site FirstPost.com reported.

Also on the list is wuutang, MSNBC.com reported.

The word ban will be effective Nov. 21, FirstPost.com reported.

This is not the PTA's only cell phone battle. The company issued a public notice in September regarding the issue of spamming and keeping it under control.

PTA hereby intimates all individual users of telecom services that are involved in such activity to refrain from such practices that involve generation of spamming, the company wrote on its Web site, adding that legal action would be taken if necessary.