PTA Extends SIM Disown Period to One Year to Curb Misuse
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has extended the SIM disown period from 60 days to 365 days, introducing a major change in mobile identity rules aimed at reducing misuse, frequent transfers and irresponsible disposal of registered connections. The development was reported on Sunday and is expected to affect millions of mobile users across Pakistan.
Under the revised arrangement, an active SIM registered against a citizen’s identity cannot be removed, disowned or transferred for one full year after issuance. This means that once a mobile connection is activated through biometric verification, its ownership will remain tied to the same Computerised National Identity Card for 12 months.
The measure appears designed to discourage users from casually obtaining SIMs, handing them to others or repeatedly changing ownership in ways that could weaken traceability. In a country where mobile numbers are widely used for banking, messaging, digital verification, e-commerce, ride-hailing and government services, SIM ownership has become a core part of digital identity.
The PTA again urged citizens to exercise caution when providing biometric verification for the issuance of mobile connections. The regulator advised people not to allow others to use their credentials, warning that a SIM registered on a person’s CNIC may remain their responsibility even if the connection is later misused by someone else.
The latest decision also comes alongside PTA’s wider campaign to clean up mobile subscription records. The authority has previously warned that SIMs registered against expired, cancelled or deceased CNICs are being blocked as part of efforts to strengthen digital security and prevent identity misuse in telecom networks.
Mobile SIM regulation has become increasingly important in Pakistan because criminals and fraudsters often exploit weak identity practices to carry out scams, fake calls, illegal financial activity or harassment. Stronger ownership controls can help investigators trace suspicious numbers more effectively, although they also require users to be more careful before registering connections for family members, employees or acquaintances.
For ordinary citizens, the change means SIM registration should be treated as a long-term commitment rather than a temporary convenience. People who activate a number on their own identity may not be able to quickly disown it if it is handed over to another person, misplaced, sold informally or used without proper control.
The decision could also affect mobile operators, retailers and franchise networks, which may need to explain the new rule clearly to customers at the point of sale. Stronger awareness will be important so that users understand the consequences before completing biometric verification for a new connection.
The broader impact of the policy will depend on implementation, public awareness and enforcement against illegal SIM sale practices. Authorities are expected to continue advising citizens to keep CNIC records updated through NADRA, verify active connections on their identity and avoid sharing biometric access with anyone seeking to obtain a mobile number in their name.