Pakistan telecom regulator Thursday said that it had blocked some 16.5 million unverified mobile phone SIMs in a electronic verifying process. Pressure was growing on mobile phone operators after unverified SIMs were reportedly being used in crimes such as kidnapping for ransom and terrorist attacks.

Till now, in a process of cleaning of mobile subscribers’ data, a total of 16.2 million unregistered/unverified SIMs/mobile connections have already been blocked during Phase-I and Phase-II of SIM Information System – 668. After successful completion of Phase-I and Phase-II, only 16.78 million connections, out of 105 million connections were left over to re-verify their antecedents that have been termed as Target Mobile Connections for Phase-III of 668 i.e. “Proper ID Verification” project, a spokesman for the national regulator said.

During Phase-III of 668, CMTOs & PTA started approaching the target mobile connections through sending multiple SMSs and launching awareness campaign via print and electronic media since 20th April, 2011. A total of 13.28 million targeted mobile connections have approached and re-verified their antecedents through 668 database till 17th May, 2011.

In a comprehensive effort to register the SIMs against CNICs (National ID cards) of the actual users, PTA has initiated intelligent blocking from May 18th 2011 where 0.875 million left over targeted mobile connections has been blocked as a first batch. During the intelligent blocking a particular SIM/connection shall only be allowed to call 789 for re-verification of user’s antecedents.

The 789 system is an automated real time verification system where a customer has to approach Call Center of the concerned mobile company by dialing short code 789 and re-register & verify his antecedents through NADRA’s database by answering mandatory secret questions i.e. mother’s name and place of birth so as to activate his non-active SIM.

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