The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has warned citizens not to share SIM cards registered in their name with other people, according to the reports on Sunday.
PTA SIM cards
In an advisory, the PTA said that giving a SIM card registered under one’s name to another person is a punishable offence under the law.
The authority also stated that using a SIM card registered in someone else’s name is strictly prohibited.
It also said that any illegal activity carried out through a SIM card will be linked to the person whose name the SIM is registered under.
The PTA advised citizens to stay informed about all SIM cards registered against their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
It further urged people to block any unknown or unnecessary SIMs to prevent possible misuse.
The authority further advised the public to obtain new SIM cards only through authorised franchises or official customer service centres.
According to the PTA, this can help prevent fraud and illegal use of mobile connections.
Reiterating its message, the PTA urged citizens to use mobile SIMs responsibly and securely.
It also said public cooperation is important in helping curb cybercrime and other unlawful activities across the country.
Read more: PTA bans SIM card sales from midnight to 6 AM
PTA extends SIM disowning period
The PTA has revised its SIM disown policy, extending the disowning period from 60 days to 365 days.
A viral social media post had claimed that under a new PTA policy, active SIM cards could neither be disowned nor transferred to another person for one year after activation.
On May 25, a user on X claimed that according to PTA, an active SIM could only be disowned or transferred after 365 days. This sparked confusion over the accuracy of the information.
However, it was later confirmed that PTA has indeed revised its policy. It extended the SIM disowning period from 60 days to 365 days.
