Islamabad, Dec 8 (IANS): School teachers in Pakistan's Rawalpindi city have been prohibited to use cellphones during working hours, a media report said Monday.

To ensure implementation of the ban, principals have been directed to collect mobile phones from all teachers in the morning assembly and return them at the end of school hours, Dawn reported citing from the Rawalpindi education department's directives.

Authorities said the decision was taken to prevent wastage of time by teachers during school hours.

"We have taken the decision as there were reports that teachers were wasting time on mobile phones during school hours," said District Education Officer (EDO) Qazi Zahoor ul Haq, adding: "The violators of the ban can face suspension."

The official said earlier the department had tried to check the use of mobile phones in classrooms but majority of the teachers did not take the directives seriously.

"We were left with no other option but to direct the principals to collect mobile sets from the teachers at the assembly time."