Malik orders verification of all prepaid mobile SIMs within 30 days
Islamabad, April 19 (APP): Interior Minister Rehman Malik Tuesday took serious notice of the usage of unauthorized mobile SIMs and order verification of all prepaid mobile SIMs within 30 days.Presiding over a high level meeting of the heads of cellular companies here
at the Ministry of Interior, he said inspite of grave concern of the government the issue of mobile SIMs verification is not being addressed properly by cellular companies.He said criminals and terrorists used such SIMs for their ulterior motives.A lot of unbranded cell phones with same IMEI numbers are available in the market. Such cell phones cannot be traced.He said there is great need to stop sale of such mobile phone sets with same IMEI numbers.
The meeting discussed two prong issues, stop illegal handsets coming to Pakistan and how to cope with the ones which are already in Pakistan.
It was decided that all prepaid SIMs should be verified within 30 days,SIMs with IMEI numbers need to be synchronized with the help of service provider and NADRA, service provider will send the detail of tempered numbers through SMS to the consumer.
The Minister asked all the service providers to identify all those consumers holding the sets with duplicate / multiple IMEI against one SIM within 10 days and inform the consumer accordingly.
All cellular companies were asked to advise their contract customers to re-verify their IDs/SIMs again. No body will be able to import mobile phones without authorization
of PTA. PTA will issues licenses of importing phones after doing due diligence.
It was decided that PTA will issue standards/specifications of cellular phones to be imported. The importers have to submit specifications, IMEI number of cellular phones and sets to PTA before getting import license.
FBR has been advised not to clear any consignment without PTA authorization.
The Minister for Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik constituted a high level committee headed by PTA Chairman including representatives from all five service providers from private sector, a member from FIA and Intelligence Agencies.
He has given strict directions that with immediate effect no mobile phone SIMs should be given to buyer on the spot, rather it will be posted on their residential address after necessary verification from NADRA.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Secretary Interior,Chairman PTA, Provincial Home Secretaries, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, IGP Islamabad and reps of Intelligence Agencies, FIA and stakeholders.