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Pakistan's telecom regulator is considering reducing voice SIM registrations to three per identity card to combat cybercrime, while separately exploring an increase in data SIM allowances to support 5G expansion.
✦ AI SUMMARY 30-second read
- PTA proposes capping voice SIMs at three per CNIC, down from the current five under existing court-mandated rules.
- Data SIM limits may be raised to support IoT applications and Pakistan's ongoing transition to 5G, though no new ceiling has been disclosed.
- No final decision has been taken; the regulator plans to consult mobile network operators before issuing any formal policy announcement.
Why it matters: The proposed change could reshape SIM registration rules for millions of Pakistani subscribers and alter how mobile identity is managed nationally.
This summary was generated by AI. Editors may review and update it.
Pakistan's telecom regulator is weighing a significant reduction in the number of voice SIM cards that can be registered against a single Computerised National Identity Card, with the proposed ceiling set at three connections per CNIC.
Officials of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority raised concerns that multiple voice SIM registrations on a single identity document carry growing risks of exploitation for fraud and other cybercriminal activities. The authority stressed that the proposals remain under consideration and that no final decision has been reached.
At the same time, the PTA is separately exploring an expansion in permitted data SIM registrations to ease Pakistan's shift towards 5G technology and accommodate the growing demands of Internet of Things applications.
What is currently allowed
Under rules that follow a court ruling, each CNIC holder may register up to eight SIM cards in total, comprising five voice SIMs and three data SIMs.
The regulator believes this allocation needs to be revisited given emerging security challenges and shifting patterns in how subscribers actually use mobile connections. Officials argued that most users rely on only two or three active voice connections in practice, suggesting the proposed reduction would affect relatively few everyday subscribers.
Data SIMs and 5G connectivity
While voice SIM limits may be tightened, the authority is considering raising the ceiling for data SIM registrations to support connected devices and smart systems that rely on mobile data networks.
IoT applications are increasingly central to digital infrastructure, with smart equipment and connected technologies depending on stable mobile data connectivity. The PTA has not yet disclosed the specific new limit it is considering for data SIMs.
What happens next
The PTA intends to consult mobile network operators and other telecommunications companies to assess the practical implications before implementing any changes. A formal policy announcement will be issued only once that consultation process is complete.
The authority has not indicated whether subscribers who already hold more than three voice SIMs would be required to surrender connections, nor whether any transition period would be introduced. Pakistan has previously tightened SIM registration through biometric verification measures to address fraudulent connections and national security concerns.
Elets will update this story as the consultation progresses and further details emerge.