Pakistan’s telecom watchdog is throwing a wrench in the plans of SIM scammers! Starting January 24th, you’ll have to wait a whole 7 days between buying new SIM cards, making it tougher for crooks to use fake fingerprints and other tricks.
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The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced this major change in its official rules for SIM sales and activation. This extra buffer time applies to everyone, from big shops to temporary kiosks.
Why the big shift? The PTA says illegal SIM sales are on the rise, with scammers using fake fingerprints to activate multiple cards quickly. This 7-day wait period makes it much harder for them to pull off their schemes.
Of course, if you need a replacement SIM or want to switch numbers (MNP), it’ll still be done within 8 hours. But for brand new cards, get ready for a mini-break!
This move is a big win for security and peace of mind. So next time you grab a new SIM, remember – wait patiently, the extra week means your number is less likely to end up in the wrong hands.