PTA takes major step to stop fake sim cards

Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to introduce live finger detection (LFD) devices for issuing sim cards instead of bio metric devices. 

This step was taken due to the major challenge of fake sim cards to PTA, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The PTA has expedited work on shifting SIM biometric system to LFD. “300,000 SIM biometric centers across the country will be shifted to LFD,” PTA added. For this purpose, the PTA has instructed the telecom operators to switch to LFD devices in different phases.

Meanwhile, the mobile operators have started verifying sim cards on LFD devices. According to PTA, till now 700,000 fake sim cards have been identified. “As many as 5,80,000 sims are on the name of those people who had died. Mobile operators and franchises are involved for issuing the fake sim cards,” the PTA sources added. 

Telecom operators have also pointed out flaws in LFD devices. According to telecom sources, LFD has received numerous complaints that failed live fingerprint detection. “There are many costs involved in purchasing machines for biometric systems. It is really difficult to buy new machines for the new system every day,” the operators complained.