ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior, on the recommendation of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to initiate a phased process for deactivating all mobile SIMs issued against expired and invalid computerised national identity cards (CNICs).
The SIMs issued in the names of individuals who have been officially declared deceased will also be deactivated. According to the Ministry of Interior’s letter to the PTA, Nadra has provided comprehensive data identifying such CNICs, along with a schedule for the blocking of the associated SIMs.
The process will begin on June 30 this year, with the deactivation of SIMs registered against CNICs that expired in 2017. It will continue with the deactivation of SIMs linked to CNICs expired in 2018 on July 31, those expired in 2019 on Aug 31, those expired in 2020 on Sept 30, those expired in 2021 on Oct 31, and those expired in 2022 on Nov 30.
The SIMs registered on CNICs that expired in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 will be deactivated on Dec 31.
According to Nadra’s data, a total of 4,906,611 such CNICs have been identified. These identity cards have neither been renewed nor have their holders been officially reported as deceased.
Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2025
