PTA blocks 18.2 million SIMs in two and a half years

National Assembly panel told biometric data of around 600,000 citizens recovered in single raid; officials flag insider data leaks, illegal SIMs and emerging 'rent-a-bank-account' fraud The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked approximately 18.2 million SIMs over the past two and a half years and imposed Rs4.5 billion in fines on cellular operators for regulatory violations, a parliamentary committee was informed on Thursday. The figures were shared during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics, chaired by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, as lawmakers examined the use of stolen biometric information and illegally obtained SIMs in cyber and financial crimes. Officials from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) told the committee that fingerprints and biometric data belonging to around 600,000 citizens were recovered during a single raid. In another case, a suspect arrested in Faisalabad was found with 195 active mobile SIMs, 16 smartphones and 81 ATM cards belonging to different banks. The committee was also informed that employees of cellular companies were involved in leaking customer data. Officials cited a case in Rajanpur where a woman's thumb impression was allegedly obtained on the pretext of providing ration and subsequently used to acquire a SIM that was later used in terrorism. NCCIA officials said stolen biometric information and illegally obtained SIMs were being used for financial fraud on a large scale. The agency is also working to counter WhatsApp hacking. The NCCIA called for stronger verification mechanisms, including facial and iris recognition, immediate customer alerts when new SIMs are issued, enhanced monitoring and greater coordination among the PTA, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), banks, law-enforcement agencies and cellular operators. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also informed the committee about an emerging 'rent-a-bank-account' practice, under which individuals allow criminals to use their bank accounts in exchange for a share of the proceeds. The committee directed the Interior Ministry, PTA and cellular operators to address the issues and report back, while calling for stronger cyber security measures to protect citizens' biometric, telecom and banking information. Separately, the committee expressed concern over delays in transferring land and revenue records between Islamabad and Rawalpindi and directed authorities to expedite the process and provide computerised records to the Islamabad administration. The panel also reviewed Islamabad's law and order, Safe City Project and narcotics control, directing authorities to make Safe City cameras fully functional and register FIRs against drug-related offenders. A separate meeting will be held on law and order and the Safe City Project.