PTA plans facial verification for SIM issuance with NADRA Pak ID app
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is working on a new way to help people get SIM cards if their fingerprints cannot be verified. The proposed system will use facial verification to make the process easier while keeping security standards in place.
The new plan is mainly designed for senior citizens and labourers who often face problems during fingerprint verification. Many of these users are unable to complete SIM registration because their fingerprints cannot be matched successfully.
PTA has submitted a detailed report to the government and Parliament about the progress of this new verification method. The authority said it has made strong progress in finding a permanent and secure alternative to fingerprint verification.
Under the proposal, facial verification will be carried out through NADRA’s Pak ID app. PTA believes this system can provide safe and reliable customer authentication for SIM registration.
The authority has formally asked NADRA to allow both fingerprint and facial biometric verification through the Pak ID app. It has also recommended that NADRA officially approve the app for SIM verification across the country.
Once the approval is granted, telecom companies will be able to offer facial verification at their customer service centres and franchise outlets. This could make the SIM registration process much easier for thousands of people.
PTA also revealed that 70,871 SIMs have already been issued through an alternative verification process from January 2025 until now. These SIMs were provided to people whose fingerprints could not be verified through the normal biometric system.
Also read: PTA fines mobile companies Rs740m for issuing SIMs without citizens’ consent
According to the report, these customers completed verification by submitting NADRA-issued letters or medical certificates. PTA said this temporary system has already helped thousands of people receive SIMs without unnecessary delays.
The authority also confirmed that facial verification trials have been completed successfully with NADRA and mobile network operators. A proof of concept using the NADRA Pak ID app has also been completed successfully.
PTA said mobile network operators have already finished the technical work needed for facial verification. This means they will be ready to launch the new system once official approval is received.
The authority is also discussing the possibility of allowing SIM issuance through mobile operators’ own mobile applications in the future. However, all fingerprint and facial verification will continue to be verified through NADRA’s official authentication system.
The proposed system is expected to improve access to SIM services without reducing security. If approved, it could make the registration process faster, easier and more convenient for people who regularly face biometric verification problems.
The new facial verification system could remove one of the biggest problems faced by many SIM users in Pakistan. If NADRA approves the plan, getting a SIM may become quicker while official security checks remain fully active.
