A total of 75.5 million SIMs have been re-verified out of 103 million active SIMs while 27.5 million active SIMs have been blocked as of 15th May 2015. It is worth mentioning that the government had asked CMOs to re-verify their complete subscribers’ bases irrespective of their current status – active or dormant. In this regard, another 21 million SIMs were verified from the dormant base while 17 million SIMs were already verified through BVS between 1st August 2014 and 12th January 2015. New SIMs are only issued through the process of BVS.
The SIM re-verification drive through Biometric Verification System (BVS) initiated under the directions of National Action Plan has been successfully completed. MOIT and PTA were tasked to carry-out verification of all existing SIMs through BVS in January 2015. The task which looked difficult initially as the previous governments failed to do despite demand by law enforcement agencies, was now could be made possible through all out support of relevant stakeholders and dedicated efforts of all particularly PTA, MOIT, MoI, the Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) and NADRA. The support provided by people of Pakistan made this process a success who participated in the re-verification process considering it to be a national cause.
During the course of activity, MOIT and PTA undertook measures not only to make the process smooth and transparent but also to facilitate general public. Extensive awareness campaigns through SMS, electronic (TV & Radio) and digital media were run. In addition, an alternate verification process was deployed to facilitate old age, disabled and overseas Pakistanis.