The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has begun blocking WhatsApp accounts linked to inactive, cancelled or no-longer-used mobile SIM cards, citing the need to prevent fraud and other unlawful activities. The step follows an awareness campaign in which the regulator urged users to make sure their accounts were registered to active numbers that they still possessed and controlled.
The authority had warned in September that accounts tied to inactive SIMs could be blocked, saying some were being used for fraud and other illegal activities. It advised users to check their SIM status and update their WhatsApp registration if they had changed numbers.
Risks linked to reassigned mobile numbers
Mobile numbers attached to inactive or cancelled SIMs may eventually be reissued to other subscribers. If a WhatsApp account remains registered to such a number, its previous owner could lose control of it or face potential security risks, the PTA said. The regulator said the action is intended to reduce the chance of these numbers being misused for fraud and other unlawful activities.
Users who have changed their numbers are expected to update their registration promptly and ensure the number linked to the account is one they currently use and control.
Earlier warnings and the advice to users
Earlier this year, the PTA urged users to keep their accounts linked to active, properly registered SIMs and to complete biometric verification where required. In May, it cautioned that WhatsApp accounts linked to blocked, cancelled, inactive or unregistered SIMs could become inaccessible, and it repeated the message in later public awareness campaigns.
The PTA has also encouraged users to use WhatsApp’s “Change Number” feature to move their accounts to current numbers instead of continuing with numbers that are no longer active or under their control. The regulator has repeatedly urged users not to wait until they lose access before updating their details.
Where to get help with SIM registration
Consumers who need to verify their SIM registration or resolve a problem with an inactive number should contact their mobile operator’s franchise or customer service centre, the PTA advised.
