ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT)
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced through print media ‘mobile SIMs in Sindh and Balochistan will only be activated through Biometric SIM Verification System as an alternative of dialing 789 after March 31, 2014.
PTA through public advertisement in major newspaper informed stakeholders in compliance to Government of Pakistan’s (GoP)’s orders the SIM activation system will be revised from April 1, 2014 in Sindh and Balochistan.
In this regard PTA considering most volatile security situation of two provinces has decided to activate any SIM that will be bought from the Sindh and Balochistan are to be activated only through recently launched Biometric SIM Verification System.
PTA advised customers the new mobile connections should only be purchased from the Biometric System equipped customer service centres or through franchise of cellular operators after April 1, 2014.
Further PTA mentions the SIMs, which are bought before the said date would also be activated only via Biometric System. The duplicate SIMs, replacement, supplementary connections and all other customer services will only be done through the Biometric System after April 1, 2014 across Sindh and Balochistan.
Earlier PTA asked all cellular operators to install Biometric System at their customer service centres, franchises and retail shops by the end of February 2014. On this decision by PTA, industry sources have shown severe concerns and fearing sudden drop of sales of SIMs ahead of next generation technologies. Sources said in such a big city like Karachi where more than 20 to 30 percent customer service centres have not been equipped with the Biometric SIM Verification System, this could be not a easy task.