Of Simmering SIMs

Question the rationale behind the recent closure of mobile phone service on the eve of Eid all you want. But the Interior Minister seems elated since, on averting security situation (most likely urban terrorism) in selected cities where the limited period ban went into effect. Perhaps it was simply tough luck for cellular operators who probably lost billions in revenues during this interval on missing some of the Eid-related voice and SMS traffic.
Yet this dramatic episode also brought into full focus the issue that has been bothering the law enforcement authorities: illegal and unregistered SIM cards. The issue is serious in that those SIM cards that remain either unregistered or were issued on fake CNICs are more likely to be used in crimes and remain untraceable, than those that are being used by the rightful owner.
An illegal or bogus SIM should not be confused with an inactive one - its just that the user of the cellular subscription may not be the one who owns it. Moreover, while there are no known or reported instances of mobile phone as the direct instrument of terrorism or sabotage in Pakistan, illegal SIMs can, to the very least, facilitate communication among those with nefarious designs with impunity.
A little background of this situation is in order. The phenomenon of unregistered and illegal SIMs appears to have started somewhere around 2004-05 when the cellular subscriptions were around 10 million. The halt seemingly came around 2009-10 when the subscriptions were touching the hundred million mile stone, coinciding with a phase of regulatory crackdown on illegal SIMs.
The franchise model for selling SIMs meant extreme pressure to sell and meet targets. There was a time when one could buy a cellular connection without even showing the CNIC, leave alone fill out the requisite documents. A single CNIC number could be used to sell, document and activate as many SIMs the franchisee wanted and the franchisor allowed, even as the retail network expanded to small grocery stores.
PTA sprang into action only in recent years, and the watchdog now claims to have blocked over four million SIMs previously issued on bogus CNICs. There are now stringent procedures in place for new issuance and verification, and PTA is reportedly considering an ambitious plan that envisages delivering new pre-paid connections through couriers to the purchasers address after verification through NADRA.
But the system is clearly infested with, perhaps many more millions of such illegal and fake SIMs that had been issued earlier during the boom years. No wonder that the authorities want such connections blocked. After weeks of confounding confusion arising from governmental flip-flopping and contradictory statements, finally PTA has decided to block these SIMs, as reported in this paper last Friday.
The prepaid cellular subscriptions will most likely be shaken up, for only around three percent of total subscriptions are said to be post-paid which are backed by proper documentation vis-à-vis identification and billing. This would be akin to a massive cleanup operation, which could go awry if the concerned authorities and operators are not on the same page.
And now, forcing the operators to convert the existing prepaid subscriptions to postpaid would be downright foolish because it will destroy years of sector progress. Hence, caution is advised.
An exercise that weeds out illegal connections from the system is required, not just for security reasons, but also to find out the genuine tally of cellular subscriptions. This process must be undertaken in a periodic manner, and not in a haphazard way, so that there are limited disruptions in the sector specific activities and limited suspension in connectivity. Otherwise, not only will the customers suffer and operators lose revenues, but the government will also lose taxes.
On a side note, the authorities also need to realise what is clearly written on the wall: it will probably take a lot more than just blocking illegal SIMs to counter the threats of terrorism and other social crimes.