PTA imposes Rs77.8mn fine on CM Pak for SIM geo-fencing breach

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has slapped a hefty fine of Rs77.8 million on China Mobile Pakistan (CM Pak) for failing to enforce mandatory 100-metre geo-fencing requirements on biometric verification system (BVS) devices used for SIM sales.

According to an enforcement order issued by the PTA, the regulator found CM Pak responsible for allowing SIM sales beyond the designated geo-location of an authorised sales channel, in violation of the prescribed regulatory framework.

The case stems from a PTA field inspection conducted on March 30, 2026, when the regulator found an authorised sales representative affiliated with CM Pak’s Taxila franchise carrying out SIM sales at I-10 Markaz, Islamabad, outside the approved territorial jurisdiction and designated geo-location of the franchise.

The PTA said the activity also took place without the required Door-to-Door/Kiosk approval from the regulator.

The enforcement order noted that the BVS geo-fencing requirement was introduced to ensure that biometric devices remain within 100 metres of the designated geo-location of an approved sales channel.

SIM sales beyond that location are prohibited unless specifically approved by the PTA.

CM Pak had contested the proposed enforcement action, arguing that the incident was an isolated operational lapse involving a single Data Sales Officer (DSO), rather than a systemic failure of its compliance mechanism.

The company told the regulator that all SIMs involved had been activated only after successful biometric verification and remained traceable through prescribed records. It also maintained that there had been no fake or anonymous SIM issuance, biometric bypass or failure of NADRA verification.