Pakistan has begun the phased blocking of more than 4.9 million mobile SIM cards registered under expired, cancelled, or deceased citizens’ identity cards, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) confirmed on Tuesday.
The interior ministry has instructed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to act on NADRA’s recommendations in a move aimed at curbing the misuse of mobile networks through fake or inactive identities.
کیا آپ کے شناختی کارڈ کی مدت 2018 میں ختم ہو چکی ہے؟
— NADRA (@NadraPak) June 12, 2025
ایسے تمام شناختی کارڈز جن کی میعاد 2018 میں ختم ہو چکی ہے ان پر جاری شدہ موبائل سمز 31 جولائی 2025 کو بند کر دی جائیں گی
لہٰذا قریبی نادرا دفتر تشریف لائیں یا پاک آئی ڈی موبائل ایپ کے ذریعے شناختی کارڈ کی فوری تجدید کرائیں pic.twitter.com/ExZczWBorA
“A total of 4,906,611 SIMs will be blocked in phases,” a NADRA spokesperson said, adding that the process targets IDs that have not been renewed or belong to deceased individuals.
SIMs registered to identity cards that expired in 2017 will be blocked on June 30. The cut-off dates for subsequent years are as follows:
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31 July for 2018 expiries
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31 August for 2019
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30 September for 2020
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31 October for 2021
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30 November for 2022
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31 December for 2023, 2024, and 2025
The spokesperson said this action aims to “enhance national security and strengthen the digital ecosystem by making it more secure and reliable.”
Citizens are urged to renew their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) promptly to avoid any service disruptions.
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