STAFF REPORT IBD: The government has recently directed all cellular mobile operators to block all SIM stocks available in the market and hand them over by November 30 this year.
No SIM stocks shall be available at any sale point including customers service centers, franchises and retailers with effect from December 1, 2012. All cellular firms will allow roaming facility only to registered/verified satellite phones subscribers.
In order to formally communicate this directive to the companies, PTA has recently held a meeting. These companies will further inform all sale channels in writing that no SIMs would be handed over to them at customers service center, franchises or retailers after this deadline.
According to the new mechanism, the delivery of SIMs through couriers at home addresses will be ensured and the project of delivery of SIMs would be exclusively handled by the mobile companies through their own employees and this will not be in any case delegated to sale channels. In case of wrong delivery of SIMs, the responsibility would be on the mobile companies.
The directives further stated that all the companies would ensure SIMs sale on provision of at least two original IDs (CNIC plus utility bills/driving license) with effect from December 1, 2012.