ISLAMABAD: The new PTA guidelines to cellular operators have made it obligatory to comply with stricter regulations regarding the sale and distribution of SIM cards in Pakistan, putting direct responsibility of any unauthorized sale of SIM cards on the operators themselves through their franchises and other sales networks. The PTA SIM card guidelines revamp will be applicable to all phases of the SIM card and has been designed to combat identity theft.

1. Only authorised channels

Only authorised customer service centers, franchises, and outlets can distribute SIM cards. Every sales person should have an individual ID number, thus providing an accountability chain for both humans and computers.

2. Biometrics needed for new SIM cards

Activation of new SIM cards is allowed only after successful biometric verification of the client via NADRA Biometric Verification System on the basis of an original national identity card. Scans or photos will not do; only an original CNIC along with the live finger print will prove the identity of the user before activating a SIM card.

3. Live Finger Detection technology

In order to counteract the attempts of identity thieves to circumvent biometric security systems by presenting artificial fingerprints to fingerprint readers, biometric devices should be deployed which have live finger detection technology.

4. Improved oversight of franchises and retail stores

Monthly inspection and review of all franchises and retail stores in sales networks of operators is required – keeping records of all SIM issues, biometric verification processes and sales staff activity in all these outlets.

5. Responsibility of the operator for illegal SIM card sales

According to PTA SIM Card Rules Biometric Verification Pakistan framework, operators are responsible for any unauthorized/illegal sales of SIM cards in any part of their sales network regardless of whether these activities were conducted by franchisees independently of the operator.

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Why These Rules Are Being Enforced Right Now

These PTA SIM card regulations are being enforced to deal with documented misuse of SIM cards in Pakistan where they have been used for committing fraud, terrorist financing, kidnappings for ransom, extortion activities, and other criminal offenses. Certain patterns of misuse have prompted the enforcement of these regulations.

• Grey market SIM card selling: SIM cards that are linked to stolen, forged or even unsuspecting citizens’ CNICs and are then sold to individuals who need connectivity anonymously for nefarious reasons.

• Biometric bypass: fraudsters make use of false fingerprints and other loopholes in biometric systems to register SIM cards against victims’ names without their awareness or consent.

• Franchise and retailer collusion: certain players in the sales channels actually help in committing the crimes of getting illegal SIM cards issued for money, while the operators have always failed to keep a track of their complete network.

• Duplicate SIM card fraud: Criminals get themselves duplicate SIM cards of victims’ phone numbers to commit financial fraud.

PTA SIM Card regulations that involve biometrics verification have imposed implementation responsibilities on all four of Pakistan’s large mobile operators, namely: Upgrade biometric scanners to the new ones which have Live Finger Detection technology in all sales points

• Provide unique IDs to all sales representatives in all the sales channels
  

• Keep comprehensive and digital logs of all SIM cards, biometrics, and personnel transactions

• Take responsibility for all illegal sales activities wherever in their distribution chain