en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has proposed expanding alternative verification methods for SIM card issuance, introducing facial recognition technology through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA)'s Pak ID application to address issues where some citizens' fingerprints cannot be verified by existing biometric systems.
The proposal has been submitted to the government and parliament. According to a written report, this initiative aims to make SIM cards more accessible for the elderly, manual laborers, amputees, and individuals whose fingerprints are difficult or impossible to capture due to illness or other medical conditions. The PTA stated that alternative processes have already been implemented at customer service centers and some telecom franchise outlets for applicants who have repeatedly failed biometric verification.
Under current arrangements, men aged 60 and above and women aged 55 and above can use alternative verification processes after fingerprint authentication fails. This service is also available to individuals officially recognized as amputees by NADRA, as well as those with medical conditions or blurred fingerprints. For senior citizens and registered amputees, NADRA sends a verification flag after biometric verification fails. Applicants must then present their original ID card and answer identity-related questions, including details such as their mother's name and place of birth. Applicants whose fingerprints cannot be captured due to allergies, illness, or other medical conditions can be verified by the relevant mobile operator using a NADRA certificate or medical certificate.
The report states that from January 2025 to the date of submission, 70,871 users have been served through these alternative processes. The regulator is now seeking a more permanent, technology-based solution. The PTA indicated that trials required for issuing SIM cards through facial verification have been completed by the PTA, NADRA, and mobile operators. According to the report, a proof of concept for facial verification via the NADRA Pak ID application has also been conducted.
The PTA recommends that NADRA be formally authorized to allow SIM card issuance at customer service centers and authorized franchise outlets using both fingerprint and facial biometric verification through the Pak ID application. The report states that telecom operators have completed the technical development needed to support this proposal. Once regulatory approval is obtained, mobile operators can issue SIM cards through facial verification at their customer service centers and selected franchise stores.
The regulator has also held discussions with telecom companies regarding the possibility of allowing customers to apply for SIM cards through operators' mobile applications. In this model, fingerprint and facial verification would still be conducted through NADRA to protect user identity and reduce the risk of fraudulent card issuance. This initiative comes amid growing concern over the difficulties faced by citizens whose fingerprints cannot be recognized by biometric devices. The elderly and manual laborers are particularly affected, as age, physical labor, and medical conditions reduce fingerprint clarity. The proposed facial verification system aims to make the process more accessible without compromising national security or user identification requirements. Final implementation will depend on formal approval from NADRA and the issuance of clear instructions to telecom operators and franchisees.
