PTA has issued a fresh public warning stating that the sale and purchase of foreign SIM cards within Pakistan is illegal and punishable under the country’s telecommunications laws, urging citizens to refrain from engaging in such activities to avoid serious legal consequences. According to the advisory, individuals involved in the unauthorised trade or use of foreign SIM cards may face a range of penalties, with PTA highlighting that unlawful activities related to foreign SIM cards can undermine regulatory compliance and are subject to strict enforcement measures. The authority stated that legal action can be initiated against violators, with potential punishments including imprisonment, heavy fines, and the disconnection of SIM services.
PTA has warned that the use of foreign SIM cards operating within Pakistan bypasses local regulatory controls, making users vulnerable to data misuse and financial exploitation. In an earlier advisory, the regulator stated that calls and messages made through unregistered or foreign SIM cards are prohibited and may compromise users’ personal and financial information, with such SIM cards often linked to fraud, identity theft, and unlawful communication. The authority cautioned that individuals using illegally obtained SIM cards could unknowingly become involved in the transmission of illegal messages or activities, creating accountability issues and potential legal action against the user.
PTA and the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Wing have previously launched coordinated nationwide operations against individuals and businesses involved in the illegal sale of pre-activated foreign SIM cards, conducting raids across multiple cities including Abbottabad, Skardu, Peshawar, Lahore, and Sialkot. The operations targeted individuals and businesses engaged in the unauthorised sale and distribution of foreign SIM cards, which were reportedly being used for fraudulent activities, unverified communications, and other criminal operations, with several suspects taken into custody and significant numbers of illegally activated SIM cards seized.
British pre-activated SIM cards were identified as among the most commonly used by those involved in criminal activity in Pakistan, with such cards being made accessible through online platforms and sold via cash-on-delivery services. PTA advised the public to purchase SIM cards exclusively from authorised franchises or registered outlets and to ensure that any SIM card is registered in the buyer’s own name through proper biometric verification. The regulator stressed that compliance with Pakistan’s telecom regulations is not optional, and that individuals found participating in the buying or selling of foreign SIM cards expose themselves to penalties under applicable legal provisions that include imprisonment, financial penalties, and service disconnection.
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