The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has intensified its crackdown on digital fraud through coordinated raids with the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing, targeting unauthorized SIM card operations in Quetta and Gujrat.
In Quetta, authorities raided a telecom franchise located in the Engineering Building on Zarghoon Road after receiving intelligence about illegal SIM issuance activities. The operation led to the arrest of franchise owner Usman Ahmed and the seizure of critical evidence including desktop computers, biometric verification system (BVS) devices, and numerous SIM cards used in unauthorized transactions.
A separate operation conducted by PTA's Zonal Office Lahore and FIA's Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (CCRC) Gujranwala targeted a telecom franchise on Bhimber Road in Gujrat. This raid resulted from a complaint filed by a Karachi resident who had discovered irregularities related to their identification documents.
During the Gujrat investigation, authorities uncovered that 433 SIM cards had been fraudulently issued using Sindh-based Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). More alarmingly, investigators determined that 57 of these SIMs had been activated using just a single biometric verification device, indicating systematic circumvention of security protocols.
Both franchise owners were taken into custody as authorities continue their investigation into what appears to be a widespread network of illegal SIM operations spanning multiple provinces.
The PTA has urged citizens to verify their mobile SIM ownership status regularly through the official PTA website or by sending their CNIC number to 668. This verification helps identify unauthorized SIMs that may have been registered without the CNIC holder's knowledge or consent.
Authorities have warned that telecom franchises found violating regulations regarding proper biometric verification before SIM issuance will face severe penalties under relevant telecommunications laws and cybercrime statutes.
