STAFF REPORT ISB: The mobile phone SIMs re-verification process is turning out to be more like a gimmick than a serious exercise to support government efforts in countering terrorism.
According to PTA, it has completed the biometric verification of 72 million SIMs while 10 million have been blocked in the first phase ended on February 26.
However, reports say that the ongoing process was anomalous and described it as a money-making exercise. They believe that the re-verification process would eventually cost the users at least ten billion rupees.
According to sources, the telcos, their franchises and retailer outlets are charging them an average Rs.10 per CNIC which if quantified makes up around ten billion rupees.
They alleged that telcos following the government directives started the verification process to cover up their culpability as they had issued a major chunk of SIMs in Pakistan without proper documentation required before issuing a SIM.
Consequently, they had to shift huge number of SIMs in the name of the bonafide users who had submitted their CNICs.
They questioned the method of verification of thumb impression through these devices more than forty percent of the users are being referred to NADRA for matching the thumb impression.