Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has issued a nationwide warning over the rising trend of illegal SIM issuance under the pretext of “free mobile SIM offers,” cautioning citizens to avoid biometric verification at unauthorised locations, 24NewsHD TV reported on Saturday.
In an advisory, the regulator said fraudulent operators are increasingly exploiting citizens by obtaining biometric data under false pretences, which can lead to SIM cards being issued in a person’s identity without their knowledge.
Officials warned that if any SIM registered under a citizen’s identity is later used in unlawful activities, the individual may face serious legal consequences.
The PTA advised users to always obtain new SIMs only from authorised mobile network franchises or official customer service centres, ensuring all legal procedures are properly completed during issuance.