Crackdown Against Sale of Foreign SIM Cards
The FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing has launched a full-scale crackdown against the illegal purchase and sale of foreign SIMs in various cities of Pakistan.
According to Additional Director Waqaruddin Syed, these SIMs are being used in cybercrimes not only domestically but also internationally. In the operations so far, 44 people have been arrested, and 8,363 foreign SIMs have been recovered.
How do these SIMs reach Pakistan?
These foreign SIMs are usually brought to Pakistan illegally by travelers. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook are being used to sell these SIMs.
Their demand is continuously increasing due to their pre-activation and low price in the market.
Why is the demand for British SIMs high?
The most used SIMs in Pakistan are the SIMs of the British company “Jeff Geff.” According to the company’s website, people living in any part of the world can buy their SIMs. Until recently, the company used to send its SIMs to Pakistan, but now this facility has been stopped. Despite this, these SIMs are being smuggled into Pakistan illegally.
Uses and Benefits of Foreign SIMs
The main reason for the demand for foreign SIMs in Pakistan is to get the facility of live streaming and monetization on social media.
TikTok users cannot go live on their profiles because this feature is not available in Pakistan, but they can activate this feature through a British SIM. In addition, freelancers are also using these SIMs to access international payment platforms like PayPal and Wise.
Legality and Security Concerns
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), each person can only use a SIM registered in his name. Using a SIM registered in someone else’s name is illegal, whether domestic or foreign.
According to FIA officials, these SIMs are temporarily activated from the UK and brought to Pakistan, after which they are roaming and are not registered in anyone’s name.
Due to this, these SIMs are creating security concerns, but so far, the authorities have not been able to formulate an effective action plan to prevent them.
Government’s actions and future strategy
The FIA and other relevant agencies are busy in operations against this illegal business. The recent operation at Multan Airport was carried out based on a tip-off in which several smugglers were arrested.
According to officials, some groups are patronizing this business sitting in the UK, and further investigations are underway against them.
Since this business is also proving useful for freelancers in Pakistan, the government will have to adopt a balanced strategy on this issue so that cybercrimes can be controlled while a legal path can also be found for freelancers.
