PTA fined four major mobile operators Rs 740 million for issuing illegal SIMs.
ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has imposed a total fine of Rs 740 million on the country’s four major mobile operators for issuing SIM cards to citizens’ national identity cards without their knowledge or consent.
The regulator directed the companies to pay the fine within the stipulated period and warned of strict legal action if they do not comply.
The breakdown of sanctions
The PTA determined the penalties based on the nature and extent of regulatory violations committed by each operator.
- Ufone received the largest fine of over Rs 233.4 million for multiple violations of SIM issuance regulations.
- Zong was fined Rs 155.6 million for violating established SIM registration procedures.
- Jazz was ordered to pay Rs 116.7 million for illegally issuing SIM cards and failing to maintain an effective monitoring system.
- Telenor Pakistan was also fined Rs 116.7 million for ignoring SIM issuance regulations.
Franchise monitoring and biometric lapses
In its ruling, the PTA said mobile operators are directly liable for any violations committed by their franchisees.
According to the authority, the companies failed to adequately monitor their franchisees and biometric authentication systems, allowing serious irregularities and misuse of customers’ personal data.
Illegal SIMs are a security risk.
The PTA emphasized that issuing SIM cards without the customer’s consent is not a simple administrative lapse but a serious security risk.
The regulator warned that illegally issued SIMs could facilitate cyber fraud, identity theft and major financial crimes. It added that strict enforcement measures will continue to strengthen Pakistan’s telecom security and protect consumers from such breaches.
The post PTA fined four major mobile operators Rs 740 million for issuing illegal SIMs appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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