Warid Telecom and Telenor Pakistan have announced successful deployment of Biometric Verification System at their respective Customer Care Centres and Franchises.
Previously, Zong, Ufone and Mobilink had also announced similar deployments at their service centres and franchises in Karachi.
It maybe recalled that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had mandated cellular operators to deploy biometric verification system for issuance of new SIMs.
During the first phase, biometric verification system was deployed in Karachi while rest of the Pakistan will get this verification system by month end.
Biometric Verification System will cross check customers’ fingerprints for authentication against their CNIC data held with NADRA. After verification of the authenticity of the CNIC holder, the SIM will be activated against customers name.
Telenor’s CEO, Lars Christian Iuel, CEO, Telenor Pakistan has said that Biometric Verification System will help his company to address the issue of unregistered SIMs and prevent the irregular use of cellular connections.
Mr. Lars thanked Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Ministry of Information and Technology, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Ministry of Interior for helping us in this process.
Mr. Muhammad Amjad, Regional Head Franchise & Distribution, Warid Telecom, on the occasion said that Warid considers implementation of policies and regulations of national benefit as top priority, especially in the wake of the security situation of our country.
Mr. Amjad emphasized that Warid, as a responsible telecommunication organization, has taken the step to implement Biometric Verification System to provide necessary security parameters.
This system will helps to guard against the crimes
Only till such time that its installed on Business Center and Franchises only. The moment its installed on mobile shops, then I am 99% sure some way to by-pass the security will be developed.
I have earlier also aired my opinion, and will like to do the same again.
The
illegal activations of SIMS will continue to happen in Pakistan, till
such time the sims are sold at every corner paan shop, general store,
and road-side kiosks. My opinion is the SIM must be sold only at the
business center and franchises of the company. The so-called
“Authorized Retailers” is just a name given to a mobile shop or PCO.
Such shops do not have anything at stake, and they are willing to sell a
sim to anyone for their Rs 20/= or Rs 30/= profit.
If
PTA and government are really serious to eliminate illegal SIMs, then
the ONLY and best way is to ensure that sims be sold at either Mobile
Operator’s business center and Franchise ONLY. As soon as PTA allows
these mobile operators to
sell sim on retail shops, then things start getting out of hand.
The balance / Load / scratch cards may be sold at any retail shop. But the
sim, being a Consumer Durable Product, must only be sold at Franchises.
Further after implementation of Biometric, then a reasonable time be
given to all 5 operators for Re-Verification of existing operational
sims in the market.
Mobile Operators for their own benefit will try their best to sell
sims at maximum outlets. But now its upto PTA and Government that they
wish to watch our national interest or benefit of operators.
I again reiterate my earlier suggestion, thats sims be sold ONLY at Franchises and NOT on retail shops.