PTA Introduces Tougher Measures to Curb Illegal SIMs and Biometric Fraud

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is preparing a new round of measures to tighten subscriber verification and strengthen control over SIM issuance as fraudulent use of mobile connections remains a major concern.

According to details shared by the regulator, the measures under consideration include facial verification, centralized blacklisting of SIM sale channels, rationalization of sales outlets, and stricter controls on duplicate SIM issuance.

The proposed facial verification system would add another layer to the existing biometric verification process, making it harder for fraudsters to activate SIMs using stolen or fabricated biometric data.

PTA also plans to introduce a centralized blacklisting mechanism for SIM sale channels. This would allow the regulator to take coordinated action against retailers, franchises, or outlets found involved in irregular or unauthorized SIM issuance.

At the same time, the authority is considering rationalizing the overall network of SIM sale channels to improve oversight of where mobile connections are sold and activated.

The process for issuing duplicate SIMs is also being strengthened to reduce the risk of unauthorized replacements and misuse of existing subscriber identities.

These upcoming measures build on a broader set of controls already introduced by PTA to reduce illegal SIM issuance and biometric manipulation.

The regulator has geofenced SIM-sale devices within a 100-meter radius of registered sale locations to prevent their unauthorized movement. It has also strengthened its Live Finger Detection system to identify fake fingerprints made from materials such as paper, silicon, and nylon.

Access to SIM-sale devices has been restricted to a maximum of two authorized users, while SIM sales are prohibited between 12:00 am and 6:00 am. The SIM disowning period has also been extended from 60 days to 365 days.

Crackdown Expands Across SIMs, Devices, and Subscriber Identities

Between January 2024 and August 2026, the regulator carried out 90 raids across 40 cities against illegal Pakistani SIM operations. These operations led to the seizure of more than 29,346 SIMs, 234 biometric devices, and around 602,000 paper-based digital fingerprints, while 134 people were arrested.

In a separate crackdown on international SIMs, PTA teams working with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency conducted 25 raids, resulting in 37 arrests and the recovery of more than 8,000 international SIMs.

The regulator has blocked a total of 18.2 million illegal SIMs through different regulatory interventions.

Of these, around 7.9 million were blocked through pattern-based detection, 2.1 million were linked to Afghan ACC or POR card holders, while 8.2 million were associated with cancelled, impounded, deceased, or expired CNICs.

During the period from July 2025 to June 2026, PTA also blocked 768 mobile numbers and 707 IMEIs, while 11 CNICs were blacklisted in connection with fraudulent activity. Another 2,497 subscribers were issued warnings.

Operators Face Billions in Penalties

PTA has also taken enforcement action against cellular mobile operators over SIM-related violations.

A total of 48 show-cause notices were issued, followed by 39 enforcement orders involving financial penalties, while four cases were disposed of with warnings.

The combined penalties amounted to Rs 4.2 billion, including Rs 1.87 billion against Ufone, Rs 1.36 billion against Jazz, Rs 580 million against Zong, and Rs 390 million against Telenor Pakistan.

Some of these cases are currently subject to stays granted by the Islamabad High Court or the Telecom Tribunal.

The latest proposals suggest that PTA is moving beyond post-incident blocking and towards tighter prevention at the point of SIM issuance itself.

By adding facial verification, blacklisting problematic sale channels, restricting duplicate SIM issuance, and expanding control over the retail network, the regulator is seeking to make it more difficult for fraudulent connections to enter circulation in the first place.

The broader objective is to reduce the use of illegal SIMs in identity theft, financial fraud, and other criminal activity while strengthening trust in Pakistan’s subscriber verification system.

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PTA Fines Jazz Rs 38.9 Million Over Corporate SIM Issuance and Verification Violations