Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has urged mobile users to promptly renew their expired CNICs without delay.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has warned that mobile SIMs registered against cancelled or expired CNICs, as well as those linked to deceased individuals, may be blocked.
In a statement, the authority stressed the importance of ensuring uninterrupted mobile connectivity for all telecom users.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has advised mobile users to ensure their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) remain valid and updated at all times.
Users have been urged to renew expired CNICs promptly, resolve any cancellation issues with NADRA, and make sure no SIM is registered against the CNIC of a deceased individual to avoid service interruptions.
The PTA said the move reflects its commitment to protecting consumer interests while maintaining a secure, compliant, and reliable telecom system across the country.
In a related advisory, NADRA warned that millions of CNICs and official documents have expired and urged citizens to renew them on time to prevent disruptions in essential services.
NADRA has issued important guidelines for citizens, emphasizing the legal requirement to renew identity documents—especially the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC)—before expiry to prevent disruptions in essential services.
Under Pakistani law, NADRA issues identity documents for a fixed validity period, and adults are required to ensure timely renewal. Failure to comply may result in suspension of services linked to identity verification, including bank accounts, mobile SIMs, government subsidies, welfare programmes, and transactions such as property and vehicle transfers.
Although NADRA has the legal authority to impose penalties for delayed renewals, it has so far refrained from doing so in order to facilitate the public. However, the authority has noted significant levels of non-compliance.
According to NADRA data, 27.475 million CNICs, 2.309 million Overseas Identity Cards, 11.65 million Child Registration Certificates, and 0.229 million Juvenile Cards have expired and remain unrenewed. SMS reminders have also been sent, including to parents whose children have reached 18 years of age but have not yet obtained their first CNIC.
The advisory follows a recent notice by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority issued on April 8, which requires mobile users to maintain valid identity documents to ensure uninterrupted telecom services. SIMs registered against expired or deceased individuals’ CNICs are at risk of being blocked at any time.
Currently, over 8.1 million active SIMs are linked to approximately 4.5 million CNICs that require renewal, while 223,000 cards have been expired for more than a decade. In addition, 1.5 million SIMs remain registered in the names of deceased individuals, and users have been advised to transfer them to valid CNICs.
NADRA has urged citizens to take immediate action by renewing expired documents and ensuring CNIC issuance for individuals who have reached 18 years of age. Services are available at registration centres, through the Pak-ID mobile application, and at NADRA e-Sahulat franchises.
The authority also warned that if renewal rates do not improve, additional fees and penalties may be introduced in the next fiscal year after June for those who continue to delay updating their identity documents.
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