The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the country's telecom regulator, has started considering a change to its PTA SIM registration rules that would reduce the number of voice SIMs allowed on one national identity card (CNIC) from five to three. The regulator is also looking at raising the limit on data SIMs, which is currently three. No decision has been taken yet, and officials said the final policy will be announced only after talks with mobile operators and telecom companies.
What the current limit allows
PTA officials said that, in line with a court decision, one CNIC can currently be used for eight SIMs in total: five voice SIMs and three data SIMs. A voice SIM is the line used for calls and text messages, while a data SIM is mainly used for mobile internet. The review is meant to bring the balance between the two types in line with a changing digital landscape.
Why the limits are under review
Officials linked the proposal to the prevention of cybercrime and to the needs of 5G services. They said a large number of voice SIMs raises the risk of misuse and of involvement in cybercrime, and that users typically run two or three voice SIMs at a time, so a limit of three would not affect ordinary customers. For data SIMs, officials said the spread of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) services, which connect devices to the internet, will require more data SIMs, so an increase above the current three is being seriously considered.
Next steps
Officials said the review will be completed together with all mobile phone operators and telecom companies, and the final policy will be announced after that. Biometric verification, which confirms identity using physical features such as fingerprints, was tightened in the past to protect national security and curb fake SIMs. No date for the final decision has been announced, so the five-to-three voice SIM figure remains a proposal for now.
Aasan alfaaz mein
PTA ne ek CNIC par voice SIMs ki hadd 5 se kam kar ke 3 karne aur data SIMs ki hadd barhane par ghor shuru kiya hai. Abhi yeh sirf proposal hai aur final policy mobile operators aur telecom companies se mashwaray ke baad announce hogi. Officials ke mutabiq zyadatar users 2 se 3 voice SIMs hi istemal karte hain, is liye aam sarfaraz par zyada asar nahi hoga. Final faisla hone tak nayi policy ka intezar karein.
