PTA asked to curb SIM fraud, cyber scams
Photo: File
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Thursday called for stronger safeguards against fraudulent calls, illegal issuance of SIMs, misuse of biometric data and financial scams, directing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), banks, law enforcement agencies and cellular operators to jointly devise measures to protect citizens and curb cyber fraud.
The committee met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz and reviewed the implementation of its previous recommendations besides taking up a number of issues relating to cybercrime, revenue records, narcotics control, Islamabad's law and order and the capital's development.
During a detailed briefing by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), PTA, cellular mobile operators and banking sector representatives, the committee expressed serious concern over the misuse of citizens' biometric information and called for stronger verification and monitoring mechanisms.
The PTA informed the committee that around 18.2 million SIMs had been blocked during the preceding two and a half years, while fines had also been imposed on cellular operators over regulatory violations.
The committee stressed the need for enhanced verification technologies, including facial and iris recognition, immediate alerts to customers whenever a new SIM was issued in their names and stronger coordination among the PTA, NADRA, banks, law enforcement agencies and cellular operators.
It also discussed unauthorised withdrawals, rented and mule bank accounts and difficulties in the timely blocking and recovery of fraudulent funds.
The committee directed the authorities to formulate practical legislative, regulatory and technical measures to strengthen Pakistan's cybersecurity framework and protect citizens from financial fraud.
It further called for greater public awareness about the unauthorised use of foreign SIMs and directed that social media platforms be monitored to prevent their illegal promotion.