ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 465 SIMs operated by dacoits in the Kacha areas of Sindh, the Senate was told.
Sharing the details of mobile numbers/SIMs, International Mobile Equipment Identities (IMEIs) & CNICs blocked, blacklisted and warning issued on fraudulent communication for the year 2023-2024, the Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the House that the SIMs involved in illegal activities are reported to the PTA in different categories.
In the context of national security, blocking of SIMs is done on the directions of Ministry of Interior (MoI), Directorate General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), and Signals Directorate GHQ, she said.
Shaza Fatima told that in the year 2023-24, the PTA blocked 5,294 Mobile Numbers/SIMS, 4,507 IMEIs, and blacklisted 113 CNICs.
The minister also told that in compliance to a letter from the Ministry of Interior dated July 25, 2023, the PTA blocked 465 SIMs reported to be used by dacoits in the Kacha areas of Sindh including the districts of Shikarpur and Ghotki.
