MyAdhan Blog

Link: Pakistan: Cellular firms yet to launch SIMs verification campaign

As the deadline set by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is approaching fast, mobile phone operators are yet to launch the campaign for verification of Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs). In a bid to control crimes through misuse of mobile phones, the PTA asked all mobile operators to verify the SIMs they had so far issued and not to issue new ones without proper documentation. According to a rough estimate, presently seven million SIMs have been issued without proper verification and most of the unregistered SIMs are being misused for illegal and criminal activities. Easy availability of SIMs has not only led to theft and snatching of mobile sets, but they are being used in crimes like robberies, murders, kidnapping, prostitution and other criminal activities. An easy availability of the used mobile sets at the unregistered mobile shops is also playing a role in increasing crimes. Teasing women and threatening innocent people through obnoxious calls has become a favourite pastime for disgruntled youths, thanks to cheap and easy availability of mobile connections. One can discard a SIM after using it for carrying out any immoral or illegal act as getting the same costs a paltry Rs100 and can be obtained from the open market. Police and the mobile companies admit the fact. The government and authorities concerned are also well aware of circulation of millions of unregistered and improperly issued SIMs. The warning to impose a heavy fine or cancel licences of the companies failing to verify their SIMs has so far fell on deaf ears. Only Ufone has taken the lead in initiating the confirmation drive by asking the subscribers to send on 824 their identity card number, but the drive may prove a futile exercise without calling in person the user to the centre for verification. A person using bogus SIM may send anybody’s identity card number if he/she is not required to personally appear for verification. The question is how it could be confirmed that the SIM is in use of real scriber when the company is not demanding name but just identity card number? A subscriber may send a wrong number as well if not required to personally visit the concerned company office, argued Nauman Khan, a cellular phone user. Nauman said the PTA should make it mandatory for the mobile operators to call in person the subscribers for verification if it wants to make the campaign against bogus SIMs a success. However, an official at the Ufone sales centre when contacted told “The News” that the identity card was verified from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and if the SIM user’s identity does not match theirs and that of Nadra record, the connection would be blocked.