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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has deactivated 5,294 phones that were engaged in fraudulent and unlawful operations in the fiscal year 2023–24.
Furthermore, 4,507 IMEI numbers linked to illegal use have been blocked by the administration. As part of the raid, 19,730 mobile phones were warned and 113 national ID cards were blacklisted for their involvement in different unlawful activities.
Various types of SIMs that are involved in illicit activity are reported to the PTA. The Ministry of Interior (MoI), Directorate General ISI, and Signals Directorate GHQ issue directions for SIM blocking in circumstances pertaining to national security. After receiving a direction from the MoI on July 25, 2023, the PTA disabled 465 SIMs that were found to be utilized by criminals in Sindh’s “Kacha” areas, specifically in the districts of Ghotki and Shikarpur.
In addition, the PTA has begun a phased strategy to reduce the extensive illegal usage of SIM cards for mobile phones. SIMs that were registered using canceled ID cards or fraudulent credentials were the focus of the first phase, which started on August 16, 2024.
The second phase, which commenced on September 2, 2024, is centered around the blocking of SIMs associated with IDs that have expired. The third step will be to turn off SIM cards that were registered in the names of people who have died.
The PTA has made it clear that they would not abide by any form of criminal activity involving the use of SIM cards for mobile phones.
