The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is considering introducing a facial recognition-based verification system through NADRA’s Pak ID mobile application to address issues faced by individuals whose fingerprints cannot be verified during SIM registration.
According to official details, the proposed mechanism is aimed at facilitating SIM issuance for users who encounter repeated failures in fingerprint verification while maintaining existing security standards.
The initiative is primarily intended to benefit elderly citizens and manual labourers, whose fingerprints are often difficult to authenticate due to age or the nature of their work.
The PTA has submitted a detailed report on the proposed verification system to the government and parliament, stating that significant progress has been made in identifying a secure and permanent alternative to fingerprint-based verification.
Under the proposal, biometric verification would be carried out through facial recognition using NADRA’s Pak ID application. The PTA believes the system could provide a secure and reliable method of verifying customers’ identities for SIM registration.
The authority has formally requested the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to enable both fingerprint and facial biometric verification through the Pak ID app.
It has also recommended that NADRA officially approve the application for nationwide SIM verification.
If approved, telecom operators will be able to offer facial recognition-based verification services at their customer service centres and franchise outlets, making the SIM registration process more accessible for thousands of users who currently face difficulties with fingerprint authentication.
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