PTA starts blocking WhatsApp accounts tied to inactive SIM cards
After warnings in May and September, the telecom regulator has moved from advice to action against accounts registered on numbers that have lapsed or been cancelled.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has begun blocking WhatsApp accounts that are linked to inactive SIM cards, PTA officials confirmed on 28 October. The blocking follows an awareness campaign in which the regulator urged users to keep the app tied to numbers they actively hold.
The reasoning is a security one. Mobile operators can reissue inactive numbers to new subscribers. Whoever receives the number can request a WhatsApp verification code and take over the account, with its chats and contacts, or the original owner can simply lose access. The PTA has also said that some accounts on such numbers are being used for fraud and other unlawful activity.
From advisory to action
The regulator first raised the issue in May. In an advisory posted on X that month, it warned that WhatsApp accounts linked to blocked, cancelled, inactive or unregistered SIMs could become inaccessible unless users updated their details. "Your digital identity is your responsibility," it said.
On 10 September the PTA went further and said it would block accounts tied to inactive, cancelled or no longer used SIMs, adding that action against them could begin at any time. No start date was given then. The 28 October confirmation is the point at which that action began.
The PTA has not said how many accounts have been blocked or how many SIMs are affected. A Senate committee has separately raised concerns about the misuse of WhatsApp and illegal SIMs in financial fraud.
What users should do
The PTA's advice is to check whether the SIM behind a WhatsApp account is still active. Users who have changed numbers should use WhatsApp's Change Number feature, found under Settings and then Account, which moves chats, groups and settings to the new number. It works only while the user still has access to the account. Failing to update in time can lead to unexpected logouts and difficulty getting back in.
A person can see which SIMs are registered against their identity card by sending the 13 digit CNIC number by SMS to 668, or through the PTA's SIM Information System at cnic.sims.pk. The reply lists the SIMs registered across Jazz, Telenor, Zong, Ufone and SCO. The operator's franchise or customer service centre can verify a registration or deal with an inactive number.
Users who have already lost access should contact WhatsApp support. Recovery is not guaranteed, especially if the old number has been reassigned.
