PTA Recovers 16,000 Pre-Active SIMs During Raid
- Sara Habib
- July 16, 2025
- 12:36 pm
- 49
- Current Affairs
Illegal SIM crackdown Pakistan is gaining momentum. In a strong move to stop digital fraud, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) joined hands with the NCCIA Lahore. Their goal? To catch those misusing SIM cards illegally.
Major Raids in Three Cities
Raids were conducted in Multan, Kot Momin (Sargodha), and Hasilpur. In Multan, a grey SIM setup was discovered. Many active SIMs from all major operators were found. The equipment was seized. However, the main suspect escaped before arrest.
How the Network Was Traced
After analyzing the seized SIMs, officials traced the network back to a franchise in Kot Momin. Three people were caught there, including the owner. One person was found in Hasilpur, accused of giving fingerprints for fake SIMs. He also collected activated SIMs.
Arrest of Main Suspect
The main criminal was running three franchises in Vehari, Multan, and Hasilpur. He had also worked in Lahore. Authorities arrested him after collecting enough proof.
Large Number of SIMs Recovered
Officials recovered:
15,996 SIMs in total
12,636 Ufone
1,370 Jazz
1,100 Zong
890 Telenor
18 Zong BVS devices
Multiple SIM gateways (128-port, 64-port, and 32-port)
A First Information Report (FIR) was filed to take legal action.
PTA’s Clear Message
PTA stated that this crackdown shows its strong commitment to digital safety. Their aim is to protect users and stop all illegal SIM activity. More action is expected soon to clean up the telecom system.
