Last Updated: October 18, 2025
Welcome to the WBOLS classified platform. This Privacy Policy explains how WBOLS (the “Service” or “Platform” – including our website at wbols.com and our Android mobile application) collects, uses, discloses, and protects your information. It also outlines your privacy rights and how we comply with applicable laws in Pakistan. By using WBOLS, you agree to the practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our Service.
1. Information We Collect
We collect various types of information from you to provide and improve our services. This includes:
- Personal Data: When you create an account or post an ad, we may ask for personal details such as your name, email address, phone number, and contact address wbols.com . If you register through social login (e.g. Google or Facebook), we may receive basic profile information (such as your name and email) from those providers with your permission.
- Listing Content: The details you include in your listings or ads (such as item descriptions, price, images, location of the item, and any other content) are collected and stored. This may also include communications or inquiries you post through our Platform (for example, messages between buyers and sellers via our chat or messaging features).
- Usage Data: We automatically collect certain technical data when you use WBOLS. This includes your IP address, browser type, device information (device model, operating system, unique device identifiers), language preferences, and access times wbols.com . We also log your usage patterns such as pages or screens viewed, features used, search queries, clicks on ads or listings, and referral URLs.
- Location Data: If you enable location services or provide location information in a listing, we may collect and process your geographic location. For instance, the mobile app may use GPS or network-based location data to help show nearby listings or tag your posted ads with a location. You can control location access through your device settings.
- Cookies & Similar Technologies: When you visit our website, we use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your interaction with our site. This can include your preferences, login status, and personalized content. (See Cookies and Tracking below for more detail.)
- Payment Information: If you purchase any premium services on WBOLS (such as ad promotions or memberships), you may provide payment details. Please note: WBOLS itself does not store full financial information like credit card numbers on our servers. Payments are handled through trusted third-party payment gateways, and we receive confirmation of payment and basic billing details. We will only collect the information necessary to process the transaction (e.g. your name, payment method, and transaction ID) and all payments are transmitted securely.
We collect the above information either directly from you (for example, information you provide in forms) or automatically through your use of our Platform. In some cases, we may also obtain data from third parties – for instance, if you use a social media login or if a third-party posts content about you on our Platform.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal and usage data for the following purposes:
- Service Provision: To create and manage your account, facilitate posting and searching of classified listings, and enable communications between buyers and sellers. For example, we use your data to display your ads to other users and to allow you to contact a seller through our Platform.
- Communication: To send you service-related communications. This includes confirmations, notifications about your account or listings, transactional emails, responses to your inquiries, and important updates about the Platform. We may also send you alerts or messages within the app/website (for instance, if someone inquires about your ad).
- Personalization: To tailor the content and advertisements you see. Your information helps us show you relevant listings (e.g. based on your location or past activity) and customize your experience. For example, we might highlight new listings in categories you’ve shown interest in, or suggest search results near your city.
- Advertising and Analytics: To serve and measure advertisements (both our own promotions and third-party ads). We may use your data to show you targeted ads based on your interests or location. We also analyze user behavior and traffic to improve our service – for instance, tracking which sections of the site are most popular, so we can enhance them. Any analytics are typically done in aggregate form, and personal identities are not used in reporting.
- Fraud Prevention and Safety: To protect our users and maintain a safe marketplace. Information we collect (like device identifiers, IP addresses, and usage patterns) is used to detect and prevent fraud, spam, abuse, or other malicious activities. For example, it helps us identify fake accounts or investigate suspicious behavior. We may also use automated tools to scan postings for illegal or prohibited content.
- Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and law enforcement requests. If necessary, we will use or disclose personal data to meet legal obligations, enforce our Terms and Conditions, or defend against legal claims. (See Disclosure to Third Parties below for more on when we share data for legal reasons.)
- Service Improvement and Research: To develop new features and improve the WBOLS Platform. We may use aggregated usage data and feedback to troubleshoot problems, perform data analysis, test changes, and enhance functionality. User suggestions or survey responses may also be used to refine our services.
- Marketing (with Consent): To send you promotional communications about our services or partnerships only if you have opted in. For example, if you subscribe to a newsletter or agree to receive marketing emails, we might inform you about new features, offers, or events. You can opt out of marketing messages at any time (see Your Rights and Choices below).
We will not use your personal information for purposes that are unrelated to the above without first obtaining your consent. We ensure that each use of your data is for a lawful, legitimate purpose that you would reasonably expect as a user of a classified ads platform.
3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. WBOLS uses cookies and similar tracking technologies in the following ways:
- Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the website to function properly. For instance, when you log in, we use a cookie to keep you logged in as you navigate between pages. These cookies are generally session-based and expire when you log out or close your browser.
- Preference Cookies: We may use cookies to remember your preferences (such as language selection or filter settings) so that you have a customized experience on return visits.
- Analytics Cookies: To understand how users engage with our site, we use analytics tools (like Google Analytics) that set cookies in your browser. These cookies collect information about pages visited, time spent on the site, and any errors encountered. We use this information to improve site performance and user experience. The data is collected in an anonymized or aggregated form, without identifying you personally.
- Advertising Cookies: Our Platform may work with advertising partners that use cookies or similar technologies to deliver ads that are more relevant to you. For example, if third-party advertisers (such as Google AdSense or other ad networks) display ads on WBOLS, they may set cookies to track your browsing activity and interests across websites, in order to show you personalized ads. These cookies and the data they collect are subject to the privacy policies of those third parties.
- Mobile App Identifiers: While cookies are not used in the mobile app, similar tracking mechanisms exist. The WBOLS Android app may collect a device identifier or utilize software development kits (SDKs) for analytics and crash reporting. These serve a similar purpose as cookies (helping to remember your app preferences and usage patterns). You can reset or limit ad identifiers on your mobile device through your device settings.
Your Choices (Cookies): On the website, you can set your browser to refuse or delete cookies. You can also typically opt out of personalized advertising cookies through settings provided by many ad networks. However, note that if you disable cookies, some features of our site may not function correctly (for example, you might need to log in every time, or certain preferences won’t be saved). On the mobile app, you can limit tracking by adjusting your privacy settings (such as resetting your advertising ID or disabling location access, as applicable).
For more details on our use of cookies and similar technologies, or to change your preferences, you may refer to any Cookies Notice or settings available on our site. By continuing to use our website or app, you agree to our use of cookies and tracking technologies as described here.
4. Disclosure to Third Parties
We treat your personal information with care and do not sell your data to third-party companies for their independent marketing purposes. However, we do share certain data with third parties in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: We employ trusted third-party companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf. These include web hosting providers, data analytics services, email/SMS delivery services, customer support tools, payment processors, and others who assist in operating our Platform. They only receive the information necessary to perform their specific services, and they are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it solely for providing services to WBOLS.
- Advertising and Analytics Partners: As mentioned in the Cookies section, third-party advertisers or analytics tools may automatically receive certain usage data through cookies or SDKs on our site/app. For example, an analytics provider will process data like your device ID or browsing events to provide us with usage insights. Advertising networks may receive your device and browsing data to serve tailored ads. These partners act as independent controllers of the data they collect (under their own privacy policies), but we require that they comply with relevant privacy laws and standards. We do not share directly identifying personal info (like your name or email) with ad networks; they primarily work with unique identifiers and cookies.
- Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a law enforcement agency, court order, or regulatory body). We will only share the data that is necessary and proportionate for such compliance. This might include, for instance, providing information to law enforcement to investigate fraud or other illegal activities on our platform.
- Business Transfers: If WBOLS is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing due diligence, reorganization, bankruptcy, receivership, sale of assets, or transition of service to another provider, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. In such cases, we will ensure the new owner or resulting entity continues to honor the privacy commitments we have made in this policy.
- With Your Consent: Apart from the cases above, we will only share your personal data with third parties when you have given us explicit consent to do so. For example, if you choose to integrate a third-party service with WBOLS (such as an option to share your listings on a social media platform), we will share data with that service only at your direction and with your consent.
We do not disclose your personal data to any third party for purposes other than those for which it was collected without obtaining your consent iclg.com . In other words, we won’t use or transfer your information in new ways (like unrelated marketing by a partner) unless you agree or we are legally obliged. We also take steps to anonymize or aggregate data wherever feasible before sharing, so that you are not readily identifiable.
5. Third-Party Services and Links
Our Platform may contain links to third-party websites or integrate third-party services (such as map services for location, social media sharing widgets, or payment gateways). If you click on a third-party link or use an integrated service, you will be directed to that third party’s site or application.
Please note: This Privacy Policy does not apply to information collected by third-party websites, applications, or services that are not operated by WBOLS. Each third party will have its own privacy practices, and we encourage you to read their privacy policies. We are not responsible for how those third parties collect or use your data.
Examples of third-party integrations on WBOLS include:
- Payment Processors: If you choose to make online payments for WBOLS services, you might be redirected to a secure payment gateway (for instance, a credit card processing service or a mobile wallet in Pakistan). The information you provide to that payment processor (such as credit card details) is subject to their privacy policy. We do not receive your sensitive financial details beyond confirmation of payment.
- Social Media and Sharing: Our site may offer options to share content to social networks or to log in via social media accounts. These features may set cookies or gather data (like your IP and which page you’re visiting) to function. They are governed by the privacy policy of the respective social platform.
- Analytics Services: We use third-party analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) to gather usage statistics. These services may set cookies or use mobile identifiers to collect usage data (as described earlier). Google Analytics, for example, operates under Google’s privacy terms and allows us to analyze how users use WBOLS. You can opt out of Google Analytics by using a browser add-on if you wish.
We carefully select our partners and strive to only integrate services that uphold user privacy. If you have concerns about any third-party integration on our Platform, you may contact us for more information.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or to comply with legal or business requirements. This means:
- Active Account Data: If you have an account on WBOLS, we will keep your personal information while your account is active so that we can provide you services (e.g. keep your listings visible, allow you to log in, etc.).
- Listings and Transactions: Posted ads and related information are generally visible on the Platform until you delete them or as per our listing expiration policy. Even after an ad is removed from public view, we may retain the listing data in our backups or archives for a short period.
- Communications: If you have communicated through our Platform (for example, messages to other users or to customer support), we may retain those communications as long as needed to process your inquiries, resolve disputes, or for evidence in case of legal issues.
- Backup and Legal Hold: Even if you delete your account or specific data, we may retain certain information in backup systems which are purged periodically. We may also retain information if necessary for legal obligations – for instance, records of payments or transaction history might be kept for accounting/tax compliance or fraud prevention. In case of any legal dispute or enforcement of our Terms, we might retain relevant data until the matter is resolved.
Once the data is no longer needed for the purposes it was collected, we will either delete it or anonymize it so that it can no longer be associated with you. We adhere to the principle that personal data should not be kept longer than necessary iclg.com . The exact duration for which we retain different categories of data may vary depending on the nature of the data and the context. For example, laws may require us to keep certain information for a minimum time (such as financial transaction records), whereas other routine data might be deleted sooner.
If you wish to close your account or request deletion of your personal data, please contact us (see Contact Us section below). We will process such requests in accordance with applicable laws and as described under Your Rights below.
7. Data Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our security practices include:
- Encryption: Sensitive data (such as passwords or certain communications) is protected using encryption protocols. For instance, our website is accessible only over HTTPS, which encrypts the data transmitted between your browser and our servers.
- Access Controls: We restrict access to personal data to authorized personnel who need it to operate our services. Our team members and contractors are bound by confidentiality obligations. Administrative access to systems containing personal data is limited and closely monitored.
- Access Controls: We restrict access to personal data to authorized personnel who need it to operate our services. Our team members and contractors are bound by confidentiality obligations. Administrative access to systems containing personal data is limited and closely monitored.
- Firewalls and Network Security: We use firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other safeguards to prevent unauthorized network access. Our servers are regularly updated with security patches to mitigate vulnerabilities.
- Secure Data Storage: User data is stored on secure servers which may be cloud-based. We rely on reputable hosting providers that employ industry-standard security certifications and practices. Data centers housing our servers have physical security controls in place.
- Monitoring and Testing: We monitor our systems for possible vulnerabilities and attacks. Regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing (where appropriate) are conducted to evaluate the strength of our safeguards.
- Employee Training: WBOLS personnel are trained on data protection best practices and are required to follow established security protocols. We have internal policies in place to prevent accidental or intentional breaches by insiders.
- Employee Training: WBOLS personnel are trained on data protection best practices and are required to follow established security protocols. We have internal policies in place to prevent accidental or intentional breaches by insiders.
Despite our efforts, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security of your information. However, we continually update and improve our security measures to handle new threats. In the unfortunate event of a data breach that poses a risk to your rights or privacy, we will notify you and the relevant authorities as required by law.
By using WBOLS, you acknowledge that you understand these inherent risks, but also that we are dedicated to protecting your privacy and will take all reasonably necessary steps to safeguard your data.
8. Your Rights and Choices
We believe in giving you control over your personal data. Subject to Pakistani law and other applicable regulations, you have the following rights regarding your information:
- Access Your Data: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. We will provide you with a summary of your information, and explain how it is being used. (For extensive or repeated requests, a small fee or additional verification may be required as permitted by law iclg.com .)
- Rectification: If any of your personal information is incorrect, incomplete, or outdated, you have the right to ask us to correct or update it iclg.com . For example, if you change your phone number or notice an error in your profile info, you can update it in your account settings or by contacting us for assistance.
- Deletion (Right to be Forgotten): You may request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances iclg.com . For instance, if you no longer wish to use our services, you can ask that your account be deleted and we remove your personal info. We will honor such requests provided that we do not have a legal obligation or overriding legitimate interest to retain the data. Note that content you posted (like ads or messages) may still exist in backup copies for a short time, and we may retain transactional records as required by law.
- Withdrawal of Consent: Where we rely on your consent to process your data (such as for marketing emails or precise location use), you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time iclg.com . For example, you can unsubscribe from marketing communications by following the instructions in those emails, or disable location services for the app via your device. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we conducted prior to your withdrawal, and it may mean some services (like personalized features) can no longer be provided.
- Objection to Processing: You may have the right to object to certain processing of your data, such as for direct marketing purposes or in cases where we process data on the basis of our legitimate interests. If you raise an objection, we will review it and, unless we have a compelling legitimate ground to continue the processing, we will cease using the data for that purpose.
- Data Portability: To the extent applicable, you can request a copy of your data in a commonly used electronic format, so you can transfer it to another service provider. This typically applies to data you provided to us directly and that we process by automated means.
- Account Settings: Our Platform provides you with tools to access, edit, or delete certain information directly. For example, you can log into your account to edit your profile details, change your email or password, or remove a listing you posted. We encourage you to make use of these account controls.
- Cookies Choices: As described earlier, you can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings and opt-outs. Similarly, in the mobile app, you can control certain permissions (like location, camera, contacts) through your device’s privacy settings, which gives you the choice of what data you share with us.
To exercise any of your rights or if you need assistance with managing your choices, please contact us (see Contact section). We will respond to your request as soon as practicable and within any timeframe required by law. Please note that for security reasons, we may ask you to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests (to ensure that we do not disclose or delete the wrong person’s information).
9. Children’s Privacy
We are committed to protecting the privacy of minors. However, WBOLS is a general audience service and is not directed to children under the age of 13. In fact, per our Terms and Conditions, users must be at least 13 years old to use our Platform wbols.com . We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, please do not use or register on WBOLS. If we discover that we have inadvertently collected personal data from a child under 13, we will delete that information promptly.
For users who are minors but above the minimum age (for example, teenagers 13 to 17 years old), we advise that you use our Platform with the involvement and consent of a parent or guardian. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your minor child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.
We also strive to limit how we handle data of minors in line with emerging legal standards. For example, if we have reason to believe a user is under 18, we may take additional steps to verify their age and obtain parental consent before allowing certain features iclg.com . We do not knowingly target minors with personalized advertising or engage in profiling that could be harmful to younger users iclg.com . Features such as location sharing or public profiles may be restricted for accounts identified as belonging to underage users, to protect their privacy.
Please note that we do not have an age verification system for every user at sign-up; we largely rely on users’ representation of their age. We encourage parents to educate their children about online safety and to monitor their internet usage. If you have any concerns about your child’s privacy on our Platform, please reach out to us.
10. International Data Transfers
WBOLS primarily operates from Pakistan, and our databases are currently hosted in Pakistan. However, we and our third-party service providers may store or process your data on servers located in other countries. For example, we might use cloud services or technical infrastructure in a country outside of Pakistan. Similarly, if you are accessing WBOLS from outside Pakistan, be aware that your data will be transmitted to and stored in Pakistan (and potentially to other jurisdictions for backup or processing).
Whenever we transfer your personal data across national borders, we take steps to ensure it remains protected. Our measures include:
- Contractual Safeguards: If your information is transferred to a country that has different data protection standards, we will impose contractual obligations (such as standard data protection clauses) on the recipients to handle your data consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.
- Security During Transfer: We use encryption and secure protocols to transfer data between your device and our servers, and between our servers and any third-party locations. This helps prevent unauthorized access during transit.
- Limiting Transfers: We only transfer data to the extent necessary for the purposes described in this policy (for instance, using a global content delivery network to improve site performance, or outsourcing certain processing tasks). We choose service providers in jurisdictions with reputable privacy and security practices whenever possible.
It’s important to note that different countries may have data protection laws that are not as strict as those in Pakistan or your home country. In such cases, we will nonetheless treat your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and at least as protectively as required by Pakistan’s standards.
By using our Service, you understand that your information may be transferred to or stored in other countries, including the United States or members of the European Union, which may have different data protection rules. However, our collection, storage, and use of your data will continue to be governed by this Privacy Policy. If you have questions about international data transfers or require more specifics about where your data is stored, please contact us.
11. Compliance with Pakistani Laws
We strive to conduct our data practices in accordance with the laws and regulations of Pakistan. It should be noted that, as of the date of this Policy, Pakistan does not yet have a singular comprehensive data protection law in force dlapiperdataprotection.com . However, there are relevant legal frameworks and draft laws that guide our privacy commitments:
- Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA 2016): This law includes provisions related to unauthorized access, misuse of personal information, and cyber crimes. We comply with PECA 2016 by ensuring that we do not unlawfully disclose personal data and by implementing security measures to prevent data breaches. Any illegal use of personal data (e.g., unauthorized sale or transfer) is strictly against our policy, in line with PECA’s intent dlapiperdataprotection.com .
- Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 (Draft): The Government of Pakistan has prepared a draft Personal Data Protection Bill in 2023, which is expected to become law after parliamentary approval dlapiperdataprotection.com . While this Bill is not yet enacted as law, we voluntarily align our practices with its key principles to stay ahead of compliance. For example:
- We rely on consent or other lawful bases for processing personal data, and we do not process data for purposes beyond what is disclosed to you without consent iclg.com .
- We uphold purpose limitation and data minimization, collecting only what is necessary and relevant for specified purposes iclg.com .
- We follow a retention policy that avoids keeping personal data longer than needed for the purpose collected iclg.com .
- We respect user rights (such as access, correction, deletion, and withdrawal of consent) consistent with the Bill’s provisions and international best practices (as detailed in the Your Rights section above).
- For children’s data, we implement special safeguards (like parental consent and no targeted advertising) to protect minors, reflecting the obligations proposed in the draft law iclg.com .
- Other Regulations: We also adhere to any sector-specific guidelines or directives issued in Pakistan that relate to privacy and data (for example, any rules from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority regarding user data for online services). If new privacy laws come into effect, we will update our practices and this Policy accordingly to ensure compliance.
By maintaining these standards, we aim to not only comply with current law but also to meet the expectations of upcoming privacy legislation in Pakistan. We want our users to have confidence that their personal information is handled lawfully and ethically. If you have any questions about how Pakistani law applies to your data or our services, please reach out to us.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will revise the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Policy. If the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice (for example, by posting a notice on our website homepage or sending you an email notification).
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. Your continued use of WBOLS after any changes to this Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. If you do not agree with any updates to the Policy, you should discontinue using our services and may request that we remove your personal data.
For material changes that affect the consent you have given us (for instance, if we wish to use your data for a new purpose that requires consent), we will seek your consent again as required. We will not reduce your rights under this Privacy Policy without your explicit consent.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and will respond to inquiries as promptly as possible.
Contact Information:
- Email: admin@wbols.com
- Address: WBOLS Team, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Phone: +92 340 2866919 (for urgent inquiries or support)
(Please note: The phone contact is available during business hours Pakistan Standard Time. Email is our preferred contact method for privacy-related queries, as it provides a written record.)
When contacting us about your personal data, please include details of your request and any relevant information (such as the email address associated with your account) so that we can efficiently locate your records. For your security, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests.
Thank you for trusting WBOLS with your information. We value your privacy and are committed to safeguarding it in accordance with this Policy and the laws of Pakistan. Your use of our Platform is subject to this Privacy Policy as well as our Terms and Conditions. We appreciate you taking the time to read our Privacy Policy. If anything remains unclear, we welcome you to reach out for clarification dlapiperdataprotection.com .