Cellular operators along with Ministry of IT and Telecom, PTA, NADRA and Interior Ministry have finalized the plan and schedule for the implementation of biometric verification system, we have confirmed with sources.
As per the information we have got, the high-ups of cellular companies have agreed to deploy the biometric verification system in the country.
Cellular companies along with NADRA, PTA and other relevant ministry will work out the modalities, procedures, NADRA charges per SIM verification and SOPs for biometric verification system till First week of October 2013.
A source who is directly familiar with the matter confirmed that cellular companies will start deploying biometric verification system during second week of October 2013.
Rollout of biometric verification system will start with company owned customer service centres of all five cellular operators in the country.
After customer service centres, biometric verification system will be rolled out with a deadline of August 31st, 2014 for the completion of the deployment at around 75,000 outlets throughout the country.
Sources further revealed that 15,000 outlets are going to be common for all mobile operators, i.e. non-exclusive retailers who sell SIMs of multiple companies. Biometric devices – that are going to cost around 35,000 per unit – on these 15,000 common outlets is going to be funded by USF after BoD approvals.
Cellular companies are going to invest over Rs. 2 billion on the deployment of biometric verification system.
After this new system in place, all sales will be made after authenticating thumb impressions of purchaser with NDARA’s data to be sure that the person who is buying the SIM is indeed the CNIC card holder that he/she is displaying at the time of purchase.
This whole effort is being made to eliminate the chances of unregistered SIMs.
Is Rs 35,000/unit a good price? It seems a little excessive, for buying the devices in bulk.
samjha karo
a whole system with internet connection.. might be smart card reader would also be there.. license fee for Sagem devices would also be charged i think..
Great news.
great step! congrats Pakistan!!!
Just new customers will be verified?
All will be verified again. :)
I had my parents already ready for this, they appreciated bio metric verification :)
good, hope now we safe.
great news
Good start. It’ll be a first step to get things regularized. But I’m concerned about few other bits of this whole thing.
1. What about the data security at NADRA’s or telecom operators’ end
2. How it would be possible to curb the efforts of people approaching in personal capacity (and not by registering FIR) to network operators’ personnel by using personal links in order to extract the personal and call log details of any other person.
3. What steps PTA is going to take in order to make sure that the personal details of any subscriber is not being shared with anyone except (authorized) LEA personnel.
4. Opening the window of bio-metric system to network operators (75,000 locations) is on the hand also increasing the risk of personal details to be compromised. What actions are going to be taken to make this whole process secure.
If any or all of the above points are not addressed properly, it could result into more disastrous situation which we can’t even think of.
Information security system at NADRA’s end is already shaky. Along with deploying biometric verification system, they should also upgrade their security measures. Otherwise NSA will need only to sneak in one key and all of our personal data will be at their disposal. It’s a good time we start worrying about our online personal data.
very good and appriciateable step
it is good plan to save pakistani people.
Thanks.
very good step from goverment