Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has intensified its efforts against illegal SIM card issuance, conducting successful operations in Quetta and Gujrat.

In Quetta, the operation unfolded at a Ufone franchise on Zarghoon Road, where PTA officials, along with the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing, apprehended the franchise owner, Mr. Usman Ahmed. The authorities confiscated biometric verification system (BVS) devices, desktop computers, and a substantial inventory of SIM cards during the raid.

Simultaneously, in Gujrat, the PTA’s Zonal Office in Lahore teamed up with the FIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre from Gujranwala to address a complaint originating from Karachi. The raid focused on a Zong franchise on Bhimber Road, uncovering the issuance of 433 SIM cards linked to Sindh-based CNICs. Notably, 57 of these SIMs had been activated using a single BVS device. The franchise owner was promptly taken into custody.

The PTA continues to demonstrate its commitment to combating unauthorized SIM sales, emphasizing its collaborative efforts with law enforcement agencies to protect telecom consumers across the nation.