PTA has taken a significant step towards curbing illegal SIMs in the country by blocking 69,000 SIMs that were issued against canceled or fake identity cards.
The blocked SIMs were identified after the August 16 deadline for biometric verification passed. PTA has clarified that these SIMs were issued across the country against invalid or fraudulent identity documents.
To restore their blocked SIMs, users will need to obtain new identity cards from NADRA and then visit their mobile operator or franchise to get the SIM unblocked through biometric verification.
PTA has also warned that SIMs issued against expired identity cards prior to 2017 will be blocked within a week. Users can avoid this by renewing their identity cards through NADRA and getting their SIMs verified.
This move by PTA is aimed at improving the security and integrity of Pakistan’s telecommunication network. It will help to prevent the misuse of SIMs for illegal activities, such as fraud, terrorism, and money laundering.
PTA has urged all citizens to ensure that their identity cards are valid and up-to-date. This will help to prevent their SIMs from being blocked in the future. The blocking of 69,000 SIMs is a major step forward in the PTA’s efforts to combat illegal SIMs in Pakistan. However, there is still more work to be done. The PTA needs to continue to raise awareness about the importance of biometric verification and to make it easier for citizens to obtain new identity cards.
In addition, the PTA needs to work with mobile operators to ensure that they are implementing effective measures to prevent the issuance of SIMs against fake or invalid identity cards.
