ON Feb 21 at about 1pm I went for the verification of my SIM at a SIM outlet in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Karachi. I was asked to cough up Rs20 for SIM verification instead of the official stipulated rate of Rs10 per SIM.

When attention was drawn to the official rate, the people at this verification centre informed me that the said rate is applicable only to franchises or service centres.

This SIM outlet is not restricted to the verification of the sim of one company, rather it is authorised to verify SIMs of a number of companies. Thousands of rupees are being charged in excess at just one outlet. The melee seen at such outlets all over the country indicates how much amount is being overcharged to consumers in a single day.

Can the PTA and mobile operators take action against outlets that are exploiting the situation or do the hapless consumers need to refer the matter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for suo motu action in this regard.

Sadia Adnan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2015

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