In a decisive move against digital fraud, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has joined forces with the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing to clamp down on unauthorized SIM card operations. The coordinated raids, conducted in Quetta and Gujrat, have uncovered alarming breaches in telecom security practices.
The Quetta operation, carried out at a telecom franchise on Zarghoon Road, led to the arrest of franchise owner Usman Ahmed. Authorities seized computers, biometric devices, and a large number of SIM cards suspected to have been used in illegal transactions.
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Meanwhile, in Gujrat, a separate raid on a telecom franchise located on Bhimber Road was prompted by a complaint from a Karachi resident. Investigators found that 433 SIM cards had been fraudulently issued using Sindh-based CNICs, with 57 of them activated through a single biometric device—revealing a serious abuse of the verification system.
Both incidents suggest the existence of a broader illegal SIM issuance network operating across provinces. The arrested franchise owners are now under investigation as authorities dig deeper into these coordinated fraud schemes.
The PTA is urging citizens to routinely verify their SIM card status by visiting its website or sending their CNIC to 668. Officials warn that strict legal action will be taken against any telecom franchise violating biometric verification rules.
