The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked more than 1.8 million illegal SIMs over the past seven months as part of an intensified crackdown on unauthorized and foreign SIM usage.
According to PTA officials, a total of 1,838,689 illegal SIMs were blocked during the seven-month period across the country, of which 691,102 have been blocked since January of this year.
A total of 903,230 of the blocked SIMs were found registered to the CNICs of deceased individuals. Action was taken against the continued use of these SIMs despite repeated warnings issued to subscribers.
The officials further revealed that an additional 244,357 SIMs registered to canceled or expired identity cards were also blocked during the same period.
The PTA is running the operation jointly with the NCCIA to curb the sale and use of illegal SIMs. Under this joint effort, 25 raids were carried out, leading to the recovery of 8,051 foreign SIMs.
Officials said 37 accused individuals involved in the illegal SIM trade were arrested during these joint raids.
