ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman has clarified the maximum number of SIM cards that can be registered against a single Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
Speaking during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday, the PTA chairman said that a maximum of five SIMs can be obtained against one CNIC. A sixth SIM cannot be issued under the existing system.
According to ARY News, the PTA chairman also briefed the committee on joint operations conducted with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) against illegal SIMs and cybercrime-related activities.
He said the PTA had carried out 125 raids in collaboration with cybercrime authorities, during which around 25,000 SIM cards were recovered and 171 people were arrested.
The PTA chairman further revealed that biometric data had also been recovered during the raids. He said biometric records were being leaked from locations where the data was stored, highlighting the need for stronger security features.
He told the committee that the PTA had blocked around 1.8 million SIMs over the past two to two-and-a-half years and was working with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to upgrade the relevant systems.
The chairman said mobile phone companies were also being brought on board as part of efforts to strengthen the security framework and prevent the misuse of SIM cards.
During the meeting, Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan expressed concern over the use of illegal SIMs, saying they had contributed to incidents involving terrorism and extortion. He also alleged that foreign SIMs, including UK SIMs, were being advertised and sold in Pakistan.
The Minister of State for Interior also highlighted concerns over financial fraud, saying bank accounts were allegedly being rented out despite account holders knowing that fraudulent funds could be deposited into them.
He urged the PTA to further strengthen its security mechanisms and called for telecom companies and the State Bank of Pakistan to introduce additional safeguards.
Officials stressed that stronger security measures across telecommunications and financial systems would be necessary to prevent the misuse of SIMs, biometric data and bank accounts.
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