In collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circle, the Peshawar Zonal Office of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) successfully conducted a crackdown on a franchisee of a mobile phone firm that was located on Kohat Road.
With the help of Afghan passports, the franchisee and their staff were issuing SIM cards without authorization. These active SIM cards were reportedly being sold to Afghan citizens for Rs. 3,000 each by the franchisee, an Afghan person, who was reportedly running the business.
Authorities seized eight mobile phones and five laptops during the investigation; the devices held information from scanned passports. The FIA also detained five people at the scene, and they are currently conducting additional investigations into the incident. Based on knowledge about the illegal issuance of SIM cards through this sales channel, the PTA had already complained to the FIA.
The fact that this particular raid is the eleventh of its kind this year highlights the PTA’s consistent dedication to fighting the problem of illegitimate SIM card issuance.
