Attention! If you do not use the SIM card, you will be charged

According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, mobile operators may charge a "SIM rejection fee" from January 1.

ISLAMABAD: With many telecom operators providing Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) to the masses for free, people tend to take them and not use them for long periods of time – and also fail to deactivate them.

This issue is ongoing and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has taken cognizance of the situation and announced a fine of Rs 200 to people who have not used their Sim Cards for six months.

Effective January 1, 2024, mobile operators in Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) may charge a "SIM rejection fee of up to Rs 200 on SIM cards with a retention period of less than six months".

To check the status of registered SIMs, consumers can use the following methods:

By visiting https://cnic.sims.pk/

Sending SMS with CNIC number (without dashes) to 668 (charged).

In addition, the PTA advised consumers to discard or return unwanted SIM cards free of charge until December 31, 2023.

"In this way, consumers can avoid SIM rejection charges and contribute to the responsible use of SIM cards," the telecommunications authority said in a statement.

A one-time exemption from the SIM card rejection fee will be provided in case of illegal issuance of a SIM card without the knowledge or consent of the consumer, the authority said.

"Through this decision, PTA remains committed to national safety and security while ensuring uninterrupted quality service to all telecommunications customers," he added.