Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is intensifying its crackdown on the illegal use of mobile phone SIM cards by entering the third phase of its operation.
As part of this phase, the PTA will permanently block all SIM cards issued in the names of deceased individuals if they are not transferred by October 15. The regulator has urged individuals to transfer ownership of these SIMs by providing a valid death certificate, proof of relationship with the deceased, the original SIM, and proof of the current SIM.
The PTA has already taken action against SIMs issued on expired ID cards prior to 2017, deactivating approximately 70,000 such SIMs. Additionally, SIMs registered with canceled or fake ID cards have been blocked.
The PTA’s efforts to curb the illegal use of SIM cards aim to enhance national security, prevent fraudulent activities, and ensure the integrity of the telecommunications sector in Pakistan.