Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked more than 1.838 million illegal SIMs during the first seven months of 2026 as part of a nationwide campaign targeting unauthorized mobile connections and misuse of telecom services. The action, carried out in coordination with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), is aimed at improving controls over mobile subscriber registrations and addressing concerns linked to fraudulent and unauthorized use of telecom connections. According to PTA officials, 1,838,689 SIMs were blocked between January and July 2026 under different enforcement measures. The campaign covers several categories of mobile connections, including illegal SIMs, connections registered against the national identity cards of deceased individuals and SIMs associated with cancelled or expired Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). The authority has continued its efforts to verify subscriber information and remove connections that do not meet applicable registration requirements. The latest figures show the scale of the regulatory action being undertaken across Pakistan mobile telecom sector as authorities seek to improve the accuracy and reliability of subscriber records.
Of the total SIMs blocked during the period, 691,102 were identified as illegal SIMs and were disconnected between January and July. PTA also deactivated 903,230 SIMs that had been registered against the CNICs of deceased individuals after repeated warnings concerning their potential misuse. A further 244,357 SIMs linked to cancelled or expired CNICs were blocked, preventing mobile connections from continuing to operate against identity documents that were no longer valid. The measures form part of PTA efforts to maintain more accurate subscriber identification across mobile networks and ensure that SIM registrations remain connected to valid identity information. The verification and blocking process is particularly relevant to Pakistan large mobile subscriber base, where the integrity of registration records plays an important role in preventing unauthorized use of telecom services. By removing connections associated with invalid or outdated identification records, PTA is seeking to reduce the number of mobile connections that can operate outside established registration requirements.
PTA and NCCIA have also been conducting joint operations against the unauthorized sale and distribution of foreign SIM cards. During 25 raids conducted in Islamabad and other locations, authorities recovered 8,051 foreign SIM cards as part of the enforcement campaign. The operations are focused on networks involved in the unauthorized distribution and misuse of mobile connections, with authorities continuing to examine activities linked to foreign SIM trading. PTA said the coordinated campaign is intended to address telecom-related fraud and other risks associated with SIMs that are not properly registered or distributed through authorized channels. The involvement of NCCIA adds a cybercrime investigation component to the telecom regulator enforcement activity, allowing the two agencies to coordinate their efforts around issues involving mobile connections and digital services. The campaign demonstrates that SIM registration is being treated not only as a telecom compliance matter but also as part of wider efforts to maintain security and reduce misuse of mobile communication services.
PTA has said the nationwide campaign will continue, with strict legal action planned against individuals and networks involved in the illegal sale, distribution or misuse of SIM cards. The regulator enforcement measures come as Pakistan continues to place greater emphasis on accurate subscriber identification and controls across its mobile communications infrastructure. The blocking of more than 1.83 million SIMs in seven months includes several distinct categories of connections that were considered non-compliant, giving the campaign a broader scope than action against illegal SIMs alone. PTA coordination with NCCIA is also expected to remain part of efforts targeting unauthorized SIM distribution and telecom-related fraud. As the campaign continues, mobile users and distributors will remain subject to registration and verification requirements designed to ensure that active SIM connections are associated with valid subscriber information. The latest enforcement figures underline the scale of the ongoing process and reflect PTA continued focus on monitoring mobile connections and addressing SIM-related misuse across the country.
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