ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Monday said it will start suspending mobile phone SIMs of those users who have not renewed their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs).
The authority’s announcement comes as it kicks off the second phase of its operation to stop the illegal use of SIMs across Pakistan.
“Those whose ID cards have expired before 2017 and have not been renewed, their SIMs will be suspended,” said PTA in a statement issued. The authority has asked users to get their identity cards renewed to avoid SIM blocking.
The PTA blocked fake SIMs and cancelled CNICs of citizens in the first phase after launching the operation. According to the statement since August 16, more than 69,000 illegal SIMs have been blocked. It said that the illegal SIMs are being blocked on the basis of data obtained from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
Meanwhile, during the third phase, the authority will block SIMs registered in the names of deceased persons. Before the blocking of mobile SIMs, messages were sent to users, asking them to update their data.
The PTA in the statement added that fake SIMs are being used in different illegal activities including financial fraud, terrorism and other activities. It noted that in the last three and a half years, the authority has blocked more than 363,000 URLs involved in illegal activities.
From January 2021 to June 2024, the category of impersonating and defamatory content had the lowest blocking rate. Social media platforms blocked 307,610 of these URLs. The PTA is also taking action on 2,480 URLs related to contempt of court.
