ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed users to immediately link their WhatsApp numbers to active and registered SIMs.
It has warned that WhatsApp accounts linked to inactive, blocked, deactivated, or unregistered SIMs may soon become inaccessible.
According to the PTA, to protect WhatsApp accounts, contacts, messages and digital identities, it is necessary that the WhatsApp number is always linked to an active and correctly registered SIM.
The authority has directed users to immediately verify that their WhatsApp number is linked to an active and usable SIM. If the current SIM has become inactive, the WhatsApp account should be immediately transferred to an active and verified SIM.
The PTA has further said that if necessary, users should contact their nearest franchise or customer service center, where the biometric verification and SIM verification process can be completed.
The PTA has warned that one should not wait for the account to be suddenly logged out, as the mobile number is not only a means of communication but also the digital identity of the user.
PTA to block SIM cards
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has warned mobile users that SIMs registered on invalid, cancelled, or expired National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) identity cards may be blocked or suspended.
A regular campaign has been launched on social media platforms to make citizens aware of this. The awareness message issued by the PTA states that for continuous use of mobile phone service, it is necessary for users to check the validity of their computerized national identity cards on time and renew them immediately in case of expiry.
According to the authority, only SIMs registered on valid, active, and verifiable identity cards will be kept active on the network.
The PTA has clarified that if a user’s identity card has expired, is invalid in NADRA records, or has been cancelled for any reason, then mobile SIMs registered on that identity card can be blocked under regulatory rules.
Therefore, users have been instructed to contact their nearest NADRA registration center immediately to avoid any possible disruption in mobile service.
According to the authority, after renewing the identity card, it is also important for users to register their updated information in the records of the relevant mobile company so that the SIM registration data remains accurate and verifiable.
PTA says that this move aims to make the use of mobile SIMs legal and secure, prevent unverified connections, and protect users from service disruptions in the future.
Citizens have been asked to ensure the timely renewal of their identity documents.
