PTA Blocks 69,000 SIMs Issued Against Fake, Cancelled ID Cards

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has taken a significant step towards curbing illegal SIMs in the country by blocking 69,000 SIMs that were issued against canceled or fake identity cards.

The blocked SIMs were identified after the August 16 deadline for biometric verification passed. PTA has clarified that these SIMs were issued across the country against invalid or fraudulent identity documents.

To restore their blocked SIMs, users will need to obtain new identity cards from NADRA and then visit their mobile operator or franchise to get the SIM unblocked through biometric verification.

PTA has also warned that SIMs issued against expired identity cards prior to 2017 will be blocked within a week. Users can avoid this by renewing their identity cards through NADRA and getting their SIMs verified.