LAHORE, Sept 16: All cellular companies have agreed in principle to install the biometric system.

The government has directed the cellular companies to install the biometric system primarily to make the process of issuance of SIMs foolproof.

“Keeping in view the national security requirements, cellular operators have agreed to install the biometric system,” official sources told Dawn.

The installation of a complete biometric equipment at every SIM sale point will reportedly cost between Rs35,000 and Rs40,000.

The sources said Nadra related payment by mobile operators with regard to SIM verification through biometric would now increase from Rs13 to Rs28 per transaction.

They said during the last three to four years, the operators had spent almost Rs2 billion on Nadra charges for different types of SIM verification processes.

Mobile operators require that all stakeholders should contribute in this matter, as this step has been taken for the purpose of national security and so they should be allowed a subsidy on the import of equipment.

“Nadra should substantially reduce its charges for this cause of national security which is of dire need in the current situation. The government should bear 30 to 40 per cent of the total equipment cost through import subsidies and funding available from different sources,” said an official of an operator.

Currently, the mobile phone companies are selling SIMs at 250,000 sale points across Pakistan (including service centres, retailers and franchises).

“To install a biometric system across the country at around 70,000 to 75,000 retail points, it will take a minimum of one year and cost approximately Rs2.8 billion based on the availability of specialised equipment to be imported from abroad,” he said.