ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has blacklisted 367,000 computerised national identity cards from registering mobile phone SIMs.

According to details, the PTA has launched crackdown against those swindling citizens out of millions of rupees online in the name of lotteries, Ehsaas Programme and Benazir Income Support Programme.

The telecom authority has blacklisted more than 300,000 scammers for stealing thumb prints, while inspection of 50 million CNICs is underway. It also said that licenses of 1,772 SIMs retailers were also suspended, while 22 of them were banned.

“247 frenchises have been issued warnings, while 21 employees have been fired,” it added.

More than 125,000 mobile numbers have been blocked, whereas fines worth millions of rupees have been imposed.

The PTA said that with the help of the NADRA’s data, 50 million such CNICs were identified which had expired long ago but SIMS were still registered in their names.