Islamabad, In a significant move to curb the illegal issuance of SIM cards, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) Zonal Office in Rawalpindi, in close cooperation with the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing, has conducted a series of targeted raids. The operations were carried out against franchisees of a mobile phone company and an illicit SIM registration vendor in Hasan Abdal, Wah, and Rawalpindi.
According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the enforcement actions led to the seizure of 3550 pre-active SIMs, 3 Biometric Verification System (BVS) devices, 748 silicon thumbs, 11 thousand digital fingerprints, and a printer, underscoring the scale of the illegal activities. Furthermore, three suspects were detained at the sites by the FIA, with formal FIRs lodged against them, highlighting the authorities’ commitment to legal action and accountability.
The raids were initiated following a complaint lodged by PTA with the FIA, pinpointing the fraudulent issuance of SIMs by the implicated sales channels. This clampdown is part of PTA’s broader strategy to safeguard the integrity of the Multi-Finger Biometric Verification System (MBVS) and to eliminate avenues for unauthorized SIM distribution, which poses significant security risks.
The ongoing investigation by the FIA aims to unravel the extent of the illegal operation and to implement measures to prevent future violations. These efforts are crucial in ensuring telecommunication security and in maintaining the credibility of Pakistan’s digital infrastructure.