Illegal SIMs
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has intensified its crackdown on the illegal issuance of SIM cards.
In a recent development, the authorities arrested the owner of a telecom franchise in Punjab’s Mianwali district for allegedly being involved in unauthorized SIM registrations. The arrest was confirmed in a press release issued on Tuesday.
This action is part of a broader initiative by the PTA and FIA to curb illegal SIM operations across the country. Last month alone, joint raids conducted by the two agencies resulted in the arrest of at least 54 individuals nationwide.
Additionally, over 15,000 illegally issued SIM cards were confiscated in separate operations, demonstrating the scale of the problem and the government’s commitment to addressing it.
In the latest operation, the PTA stated that a successful raid was conducted at a Ufone franchise in Mianwali with the assistance of the FIA’s Lahore Cyber Crime Circle. According to the regulatory authority, the franchise was found to be involved in the fraudulent issuance of SIM cards, circumventing established verification procedures.
During the raid, authorities seized 496 digital fingerprint impressions (single impressions), multiple Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices, two scanners, and a laptop used in the illicit activities.
The FIA took custody of the confiscated items as evidence and arrested the franchise owner. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the suspect, and further legal proceedings are underway. The FIA’s Cyber Crime Circle has launched an in-depth investigation to identify other individuals potentially linked to the illegal SIM registration network.
The PTA emphasized that these enforcement actions are part of its broader strategy to prevent the circumvention of the Multi-Finger Biometric Verification System (MBVS), which was introduced to enhance security in the SIM registration process.
The regulatory body reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating illegal SIM issuance and ensuring that all telecom franchises comply with strict verification protocols.
Illegal SIM registration remains a significant challenge in Pakistan, with authorities continuously working to dismantle networks involved in these fraudulent activities. In a related crackdown last month, the FIA’s Rawalpindi Cyber Crime Circle detained a suspect from Lahore’s Gulshan Ali Colony for allegedly selling international SIM cards illegally.
Furthermore, in February, FIA’s cybercrime wing Additional Director General Waqaruddin Syed disclosed that 44 suspects had been arrested from various cities, including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Abbottabad.
He also revealed that law enforcement agencies had recovered 8,363 international SIM cards from the United Kingdom, with a total of 21 cases registered across the country.
The ongoing operations reflect the authorities’ commitment to eliminating fraudulent SIM issuance, which has been linked to various illegal activities, including financial fraud and cybercrime. The PTA and FIA continue to urge citizens and telecom operators to adhere strictly to the country’s SIM registration regulations to prevent misuse and strengthen national security.
