ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has taken strict action against illegal cyber fraud and has blocked more than 5.1 million illegal SIMs in the last year. 83 websites that were selling illegal SIMs were also shut down during the operation.
To clean the telecom database, PTA also blocked or recycled 891,000 inactive SIMs in a year. 3.2 million SIMs registered in the names of deceased persons, 69,000 SIMs issued on cancelled or confiscated identity cards, 783,000 SIMs on expired identity cards, and 179,000 SIMs of repatriated foreigners were also blocked.
PTA, in collaboration with the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency, conducted 76 raids against illegal SIMs in 24 cities of the country, in which 5,300 local and 8,000 foreign SIMs were seized.
During these operations, 99 biometric devices and more than 250,000 digital fingerprints were also seized. 71 people were arrested in 44 raids for illegal local SIMs, while 46 people were arrested in 32 raids for international SIMs.
The PTA has made three-factor authentication mandatory for SIM sellers and has implemented geo-fencing and live fingerprint detection systems on biometric devices.
PTA commences grant of Class Licenses for Internet Services at district level
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has commenced the grant of Class Licenses for the Provision of Internet Services at the District Level as part of its continued efforts to encourage local entrepreneurship and enhance broadband penetration across Pakistan.
The Class License shall be issued for a period of ten (10) years. Applicants will be required to pay a one-time Initial License Fee of PKR 300,000 (three hundred thousand). An Annual License Fee (ALF) of PKR 100,000 (one hundred thousand) for the first year shall be payable along with the initial fee before the license becomes effective. The ALF for subsequent years shall be payable in advance and will be subject to an annual increase of 10%.
Interested applicants are advised to apply as per the prescribed checklist and submit their applications online through PTA’s online portal at: https://eservices.pta.gov.pk. The template of the said license is also available on PTA’s website at: https://www.pta.gov.pk/category/class-vas-licenses-588174-2023-05-30.
PTA remains committed to promoting digital inclusion, strengthening broadband infrastructure, and facilitating growth in the telecommunications sector across the country.
