The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), on Tuesday, took notice of media reports regarding the alleged availability of subscriber data online. Clarifying the reports, the authority said it neither holds nor manages subscriber information, which remains the responsibility of licenced operators.
Initial review shows the reported datasets include family details, travel records, vehicle registrations, and CNIC copies indicating aggregation from multiple external sources, not telecom operators, said a news release. PTA’s audits have found no breaches within the licensed sector.
Read: Sensitive data of thousands of Pakistanis put on sale online
In its ongoing crackdown on unlawful content, PTA has blocked 1,372 sites, apps, and social media pages involved in selling or sharing personal data. The Ministry of Interior has formed an inquiry committee that is probing the matter.
The interior minister took immediate notice on citizens’ data being sold online, prompting swift action by the PTA and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
The PTA discovered that not only websites but also numerous mobile applications were involved in the illicit data trade. A specially constituted seven-member NCCIA investigation team, led by Additional Director Mehmood-ul-Hassan, has begun analysing both websites and apps that allegedly facilitated the sale of sensitive personal information.
Sources revealed investigators are examining whether data theft occurred before 2023 or recently. Individuals involved in selling data via digital platforms are now targeted for arrest.
Authorities have identified the offending websites and applications, and a decision has been made to completely ban them. Legal action under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) will follow.
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The NCCIA’s investigative team has asked all cellular companies to submit comprehensive records and stand briefed on data security protocols. Service providers assured full cooperation during the probe. Meanwhile, the team is also exploring other potential data leak sources.
The federal committee has been instructed to finalise and submit recommendations to the interior ministry within 14 days.
Earlier, it was reported that thousands of Pakistanis—including federal ministers and senior officials—are reportedly affected by an ongoing breach of personal data, now available for sale online.
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Data available for purchase includes mobile SIM owners’ addresses, call logs, copies of national identity cards, and abroad travel details. The records span a wide range of individuals, from federal ministers to PTA spokespersons, and extend across government tiers.
Despite a similar warning issued by Express News on October 12 last year, the illicit trade continues, with weak enforcement failing to stem the leak. Authorities including PTA and NCCIA have remained largely silent—despite assurances that offending websites were shut down.
According to the report, dozens of sites are offering sensitive data at low prices—mobile location data for Rs500, detailed mobile records for Rs2,000, and international travel details for Rs5,000. Intelligence sources warn that harmful actors could exploit such data to target victims at minimal cost.
