SIMs must be blocked if lost: PTA
By Muhammad Yasir
KARACHI: The cellular users will be held responsible under law if the subscription under his or her name is used in punishable offence.
They are liable to block the SIM within 24 hours through the concerned operators if it is lost or stolen. Pakistan Telecommuni-cation Authority (PTA) stated in its recently issued ‘Subscribers Antecedents Verification Regulations’ for cellular subscribers and operators that explained the registration and maintenance of accurate data of their users through proper documentation and complete verification by National Database Registration Authority (NADRA).
All cellular subscribers are responsible for use SIM registered on their name, which shall not be misused for any fraudulent, unsolicited and obnoxious communications. The cellular subscribers shall be entitled to purchase maximum up to 10 SIMs of one operator provided that the data is verified properly, otherwise unverified and unnamed SIM will be blocked. The detail of subscribers and SIMs will be submitted to PTA on monthly basis by cellular operators.
The subscription of cellular services will be activated on the verification of CNIC details through NADRA. For below 18 year-old subscribers, one of the parents’ CNIC along with copy of B-form shall be submitted to authorised agents or seller of the SIM.
The foreign nationals shall obtain SIM after submission of passport and visa copy to the authorised agent of cellular operators. In case of alien, a photocopy of card issued by National Alien Registration Authority (NARA) with updates of additional information to be submitted to the authority time to time, the regulations said.
PTA has said cellular operators are sole responsible to sell SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) to any individual by any means with assurance of complete verification of users antecedents at the time of activation. The regulations stated that cellular operators shall be entitled to sell SIM(s) only through their customer service centers, franchises and authorised agents and their complete details will be provided to authority from time to time. All sale agreement with customers shall be properly stamped by the authorised agent at time of SIM sale and purchase.
In case of non-compliance of regulations, the retailers and agents contract will be terminated by operators. The operators will ensure the cleaning of old data of their subscribers after regular interval and upgrade the maintenance of subscribers’ data to submit it to the authority as current status. The operators will ensure the confidentiality of all details disclosed by its subscribers.
PTA can inspect the record of cellular operators and their registered agents any time aimed at ensuring compliance of regulations as much as possible.
Source: Daily Times
Date:5/27/2011
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