PTA to block SIMs for holders of expired CNICs

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will begin suspending mobile SIMs of users with expired Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC).

PTA has also started the second phase of its operation to stop the illegal use of SIM cards across the country.

A statement issued by the PTA on Monday read, “Those whose ID cards expired before 2017 and have not been renewed will have their SIMs suspended. ” The statement also urged users to renew their ID cards to avoid blocking their SIMs.

Results from the first phase

Notably, the PTA blocked fake SIMs and cancelled the CNICs during the first phase of the operation.

“Since August 16, more than 69,000 illegal SIMs have been blocked,” the statement read, adding that the illegal SIMs are being blocked based on data obtained from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

Goals for the third phase

PTA will terminate SIMs registered in the name of deceased persons during the third phase.

Awareness messages were sent to users before the blocking of mobile SIMs, asking them to update relevant data.

PTA, however, maintains that fake SIMs are being used in various illegal activities, including terrorism, financial fraud and other scams.

Blocking illegal URLs

The authorities have blocked more than 363,000 URLs in the category of illegal content in the last three and a half years.

From January 2021 to June 2024, defamatory or impersonating content had the lowest blocking rate. Social media platforms blocked 307,610 of these URLs. The overall blocking rate was 84.72%.

Blocking URLs involved in contempt of court

The PTA is taking action on 2,480 URLs related to contempt of court, and social media platforms blocked 1,496. The blocking rate is 60.32 per cent.

The rate of blocking content against security and defence is slightly higher.

Blocking un-Islamic content

The rate of blocking un-Islamic content is also high, with action taken against 46,103 URLs and 37,479 blocked.

34,673 URLs were examined, and 28,922 were blocked for sectarianism and hate speech content.

Blocking proxy-related content

The unethical category has documented the highest blocking rate, with 158,054 URLs examined and 152,646 blocked. Its content blocking rate is 96.46 per cent, with all 51 URLs related to proxy content blocked.