ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have arrested eight people and seized more than 7,000 illegal SIM cards in a crackdown, according to a press release.
The agencies carried out joint raids in Multan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. Thousands of illegal pre-activated international SIMs were recovered.
In Multan, five raids led to the seizure of 7,064 SIMs and the arrest of eight suspects. In Lahore and Gujranwala, 252 SIMs were seized, and two shop owners were arrested.
In Rawalpindi, officials confiscated 335 UK SIMs along with other illegal cards. In Karachi, 10 SIMs were recovered, and a shop owner was taken into custody.
PTA said it remains committed to stopping illegal SIM sales and urged the public to cooperate for a secure digital environment.
Recently, the FIA warned that illegal UK SIMs are being used in Pakistan for serious crimes, including child pornography, kidnapping for ransom, and online fraud.
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At a press conference, FIA Cybercrime Wing Additional Director General Waqaruddin Syed said a major crackdown has begun against the illegal SIM trade. So far, 44 suspects have been arrested from Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Abbottabad.
Authorities have recovered 8,363 UK SIMs, and 21 cases have been registered across the country.
