PTA’s Bold Move: Stricter SOPs to Combat Illegal SIM Cards from today”

“PTA Implements Stringent Measures to Curb Illegal SIM Issuance, Extends Activation Timeline for Second SIM”

ISLAMABAD: PTA’s Bold Move: Stricter SOPs to Combat Illegal SIM Cards from today”. In an effort to combat the proliferation of illegal SIM cards, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced significant changes to the issuance and activation process. Starting January 24, new standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be enforced, affecting all operators, customer service centers, franchisees, and retailers.

The key modification involves extending the activation period for the second new SIM for an individual, which will now be available and activated within seven days, a departure from the previous eight-hour timeframe. The first new SIM and duplicate SIM cards or numbers will continue to be issued and activated within the original eight-hour duration, according to the PTA.

The decision to implement these stricter SOPs was prompted by the need to curtail the issuance of multiple SIMs to a single user in a day. The PTA revealed that fraudulent practices, such as using fake thumb impressions, were leading to the issuance of multiple SIMs in a short span.

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To reinforce these measures, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will also integrate the new SOPs into its system. PTA officials believe that these changes will significantly reduce instances of forgery and fraud, particularly cases where SIMs are misused, such as installing WhatsApp and associating the SIMs with someone else’s identity.