PTA fines mobile companies Rs740m for issuing SIMs without citizens’ consent
The telecom regulator said serious weaknesses in monitoring and verification systems led to the violations.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has imposed penalties worth Rs740 million on mobile network operators for issuing SIM cards without the permission of registered individuals. The action followed an investigation that uncovered unauthorized SIM registrations linked to citizens’ CNICs.
According to the regulator, all four mobile companies were found responsible for breaches in the SIM issuance process. PTA said the companies failed to adequately supervise their franchise networks and biometric verification mechanisms.
Officials stated that weak oversight created opportunities for unauthorized SIM activation. The authority believes stronger controls could have prevented such violations from occurring.
PTA has instructed the companies to pay the fines within the specified deadline. It also warned that legal proceedings may be initiated if the penalties are not deposited on time.
The regulator clarified that mobile operators will be held accountable for violations committed by their franchises. This means companies cannot avoid responsibility by shifting blame to third-party outlets.
PTA stressed that illegal SIM issuance poses significant risks to the public. Such activities can contribute to identity theft, cybercrime, online fraud and other financial offenses.
Also read: Big alert from PTA: Check your SIMs or face security risks
The authority said strict enforcement measures are necessary to protect consumers and improve confidence in Pakistan’s telecom sector. Officials added that stronger compliance standards will help reduce misuse of mobile connections.
Separately, PTA recently announced a planned network upgrade that could temporarily affect mobile device registration services. The maintenance activity is intended to improve security, system stability and overall performance.
According to the regulator, technical teams are closely monitoring the upgrade process. The authority said every effort is being made to minimize inconvenience and restore services as quickly as possible.
The large fine shows that regulators are taking unauthorized SIM issuance more seriously. Stronger monitoring and verification may help reduce fraud and improve public trust in telecom services.
