The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics on Thursday that approximately 18.2 million SIMs had been blocked during the preceding two and a half years and that fines of Rs4.5 billion were imposed on cellular operators for regulatory violations. The meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Interior and Narcotics was chaired by Chairman Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has revealed that fingerprints and biometric data of around 600,000 citizens were recovered during a single raid, while a suspect arrested in Faisalabad was found in possession of 195 active mobile SIMs, 16 smartphones, and 81 ATM cards belonging to different banks. The panel was informed that employees of mobile phone companies were involved in leaking customers' data. Giving an example, officials told the committee that a woman's thumb impression was obtained in Rajanpur on the pretext of providing ration, but the biometric information was subsequently used to obtain a SIM that was later used in terrorism.

The NCCIA officials told the committee that stolen biometric data and illegally obtained SIMs were being used for widespread financial frauds against citizens. The agency, they said, was working to eliminate WhatsApp hacking. Committee Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz said MPs were also vulnerable to cyber fraud. 'Every week we receive calls from fraudsters posing as courier companies. My WhatsApp has also been hacked,' he said, adding that while lawmakers could identify such scams, ordinary citizens often could not. 'How do our fingerprints reach these hackers? How can hackers access the account using thumb impressions and steal money?' he questioned.

The NCCIA director said criminals were using stolen biometric data and SIMs to carry out financial fraud on a large scale. He stressed the need for enhanced verification technologies, including facial and iris recognition, immediate customer alerts upon issuance of new SIMs, stronger monitoring mechanisms, and coordinated action among the PTA, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), banks, law enforcement agencies, and cellular operators. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry revealed that a new practice of 'rent-a-bank-account' had emerged in Pakistan, under which people were renting out their bank accounts in exchange for money. He said account holders often knew that they could face imprisonment if caught but entered into prior agreements with criminals and received a share of the proceeds.

These disclosures have raised serious concerns over the security of citizens' biometric information, telecom data, and banking credentials, as well as the involvement of insiders in data leaks. The committee directed the Interior Ministry, PTA, and cellular operators to resolve the issues and report back, while calling for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect citizens from financial fraud. It expressed concern over delays in transferring land and revenue records between Islamabad and Rawalpindi and directed authorities to expedite the process and provide computerized records to the Islamabad Administration. It also deferred a briefing on the implementation of the March 3, 2026 order concerning a former official and directed relevant revenue officials and office-bearers to attend the next meeting. The Islamabad Police briefed the committee on law and order, Safe City projects, and anti-narcotics measures.