ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has implemented a significant measure to curb the issuance of illegal SIM cards.
Changes have been made to the process of issuing and activating SIMs, with the issuance and activation time for the second new SIM for an individual now extended to seven days, as opposed to the previous timeframe of eight hours.
The PTA has clarified that the first new SIM will still be issued and activated within eight hours, and the issuance of a duplicate SIM card or number will also be completed within the same duration. These revised standard operating procedures (SOPs) for SIMs are set to take effect from January 24 and will be applicable to all operators, customer service centers, franchisees, and retailers.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will also integrate the new SOPs into its system, as announced by the PTA. The decision to implement these changes aims to restrict the issuance of multiple SIMs to a single user within a day, addressing concerns about the use of fake thumb impressions to acquire multiple SIMs in a short period.
The PTA further explained that fraudsters often exploit this loophole by installing WhatsApp and utilizing SIMs issued under someone else’s name. Officials believe that the new SOPs will contribute to a reduction in cases of forgery and fraud.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
