PTA Launches Second Phase of Illegal SIM Card Suspension

Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has initiated the second phase of its crackdown on illegal SIM cards. According to a statement from PTA officials, the suspension is targeting SIM cards registered under identity cards that expired before 2017 and have not been renewed.
The PTA has urged citizens to renew their identity cards to avoid having their SIM cards suspended. The first phase of this campaign addressed fake SIMs and those linked to canceled identity cards.
Since August 16, more than 69,000 illegal SIMs have been deactivated based on data provided by NADRA. The third phase of the operation will focus on suspending SIM cards registered under deceased individuals’ names. Users are being informed via awareness messages before their SIM cards are deactivated.
The PTA emphasized that fake SIMs are frequently used in illegal activities such as terrorism, financial fraud, and other criminal operations.