PTA permanently bans mobile number portability

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a notification to all mobile phone companies in Pakistan on Wednesday instructing them to immediately halt Mobile Number Portability (MNP) services, reported Pro Pakistani.

The Ministry of Interior held a meeting, chaired by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, which issued a directive to PTA in addition to several instructions regarding unblocking of YouTube, permanent blocking of unregistered SIMs, Mobile Number Portability (MNP) and automated web locking, a PTA source told ProPakistani.

Mobile SIM sales banned
Malik ordered a ban last Friday on the sale of unregistered mobile phone SIMs. “The PTA will block 5% of illegal SIMs in the due process. No change of network will be allowed and only ID cards and utility bills can validate the identity for issuing SIM cards,” the minister said.
He said that prepaid SIM cards will now be dispatched to buyers’ residential address and will not be sold directly from company outlets.
Security during Muharram
The minister also assured that strict security measures will be implemented during the month of Muharram.
Chairing a meeting on the law and order situation, Malik said that the government has received threats of terrorism during Muharram and preemptive steps will be taking to tackle them