Federal govt ready to block non-filers SIMs despite PTA, Telcos denial

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Ministry of IT and Telecom received orders from FBR regarding blocking more than 5 million mobile phone SIMs of non-filer users.

According to the FBR Law, implementation is to be done, but in this regard, the PTA pleaded with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to review its orders and said that it would hinder digital vision and foreign investment in Pakistan.

Sources told Daily Ausaf/ABN News that in this regard, the Association of Mobile Phone Companies has also raised concerns regarding FBR’s decision to block SIM cards of non-filers.

In a letter written to the PTA, the Mobile Phone Companies Association told the PTA not to implement this decision. “Instead of closing the SIM cards, some other method should be used, it wrote.

Read More: PTA Rejects Blocking of 500,000 non-filers SIMs

However, in this regard, a meeting of the representatives of mobile phone operators and senior officials of the Ministry of IT Telecom has been held.

Sources privy to the development confirmed that, in the meeting, it was decided that the letter written by FBR to block SIMs of non-filers will be implemented and that mobile phone connections will be suspended in different stages.

In the meeting, mobile phone companies gave various suggestions, but government officials denied any implementation yet, and they were told in the meeting that action on the decision of the government to block SIMs would be taken, sources said.

Govt threatens to take PTA, Telcos to court

In another development, it has been learned that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is considering legal action against the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom companies for refusing its orders to block mobile phone SIMs of 506,671 non-filers.

Sources said if the PTA and telecom companies fail to block the SIMs by May 15, the FBR will pursue legal action, with plans to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court.