The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked at least 26 million mobile phone SIMs after undertaking a biometric verification process that started two years ago.
According to the Express Tribune, this had been done as per the mandate given under a National Action Plan, which was adopted earlier this year.
This disclosure was made by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed during question hour in Parliament on Friday.
The minister was responding to a question submitted by Senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan.
Aftab said the interior ministry had taken prompt action on the sensitive issue of SIMs verification.
The minister said the cellular mobile operators are required to collect activation tax at Rs250 per new SIM from the customers.