PTA’s deadline ends: 69,000 SIM cards blocked for fake IDs

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has taken decisive action to address the issue of illegal SIM cards. A total of 69,000 SIM cards, registered using invalid or fraudulent identity documents, have been blocked following the expiration of the August 16 biometric verification deadline.

To restore their blocked SIMs, users are required to obtain new, valid identity cards from NADRA and undergo biometric verification at their respective mobile operator or franchise.

Furthermore, PTA has announced that SIMs issued against expired identity cards before 2017 will be blocked within a week. Users can avoid this by renewing their ID cards through NADRA and completing the biometric verification process.

Earlier,  In the first phase, SIMs registered under fake or canceled CNICs were to be blocked, the second phase would target SIMs linked to expired CNICs, and the third phase would address SIMs registered under CNICs of deceased individuals.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued an injunction preventing the federal government from blocking SIMs of non-filers.

IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq issued the order in response to a written petition filed by a telecom operator challenging Clause 114-B of the Income Tax Ordinance and the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Income Tax General Orders.

The petition argued that the tax regulator’s actions infringed on the fundamental right to freedom.

Moreover, the PTA also started a crackdown against illegal SIM cards in five major cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. This move is taken to ensure a safe environment for the users eliminating chances of fraud and cyber crimes.