Answers to Your Questions: FAQs about SIMs Re-Verification! Since we know that process for re-verification of SIMs is starting soon, and every mobile phone user in Pakistan will have to re-verify his/her SIM before April 14th, 2015 to make sure that their numbers aren’t blocked after the deadline, we have prepared below FAQs to make sure that you fully understand the whole process. If your question isn’t included in the list, feel free to ask us anything in the comments below! Before we start, here are few rules to keep in mind: Each and every SIM will have to be re-verified Please keep your original CNIC with you when going for SIM re-verification Any un-verified SIM after the deadline will be blocked One individual can own maximum of 5 SIMs on single CNIC Blocked SIMs can be re-issued (after paying a fee) with-in 180 days. After 180 days of SIMs getting blocked, cellular operators will be free to re-sell SIMs to anyone. Question: What is SIM Re-Verification? Answer: If you are a SIM owner then you have to go to your nearest service centre, franchise or retail outlet of your respective company to re-verify your SIM. You will be asked to present your thumb impression on a biometric machine which will be matched with NADRA’s database. If thumb impression is matched, then it will mean that the SIM against your CNIC is verified and its confirmed that the person owning the SIM has verified the ownership of the SIM though thumb impression. Question: Do I need to Re-verify my SIM? Answer: Yes, if you own a SIM then you will have to re-verify your SIM as every mobile phone user in Pakistan has to re-verify his/her SIM. In case you fail to re-verify your SIM, it will get blocked after deadline. (Read below to know about deadlines) However, if you have purchased/replaced your SIM after August 1st, 2014 — that is with biometric verification — then your SIM is already verified and you don’t have to verify your this particular SIM that was issued after biometric verification. Your other (old and un-verified SIM) will still need re-verification. Question: Is there way to know the number of currently registered SIMs against my CNIC? Answer: You can have an idea about currently active SIMs that are registered on your CNIC by sending your CNIC number (without dashes) to 668. However, please note that this data is updated periodically and may not get you latest figures. For utmost correct data, you will have to visit service centre or franchise of respective operators to find out exact number of SIMs registered against your CNIC. Question: Who will re-verify SIMs? Answer: Company owned service centres, franchises and retail outlets with biometric verification machines can re-verify your SIMs. Question: Is there any fee for re-verification of SIMs? Answer: Yes, Rs. 10 per CNIC per operator is to be paid by subscriber. For example if a customer goes to Service Centre, Franchise or a retailer of one company and re-verifies his/her all SIMs for this particular company than he will have to pay Rs. 10 per this operator. Similarly, if he goes to another operator for SIM re-verification, then he will have to give another Rs. 10 for re-verification of all SIMs of this second operator, and so on. Question: I have 5 SIMs of five different operators, do I need to verify all of these? Answer: You will have to verify one number (before others) with biometric re-verification. This re-verified number will be called as primary number. Once verification of primary number is done, you will receive list of other numbers registered on same CNIC from same operator on this primary number. Reply to this SMS with the numbers that you want to re-verify and delete those numbers that you don’t want to re-verify (disown). Once your SMS reply from primary number is sent, your other numbers will be verified as well. Question: Do I have to go to service centres of all operators to re-verify respective SIMs? Answer: Yes, you will have to go to each operator’s service centre or franchise or retail outlet to re-verify your respective SIMs. For example if you have 1 SIM of Telenor and another from Ufone, then you will have to to go both Telenor and Ufone service centres to get your both SIMs re-verified. Telecom companies are working on a mechanism to make cross-network verification is possible, meaning that a single verification on Telenor will get your Ufone number verified as well. But this system is not live yet and you will have to visit service centres/franchises of all operators to re-verify your respective SIMs. Question: I had obtained my this SIM through Biometric Verification, do I need to Reverify it Again? Answer: No, if your SIM is activated or replaced after biometric verification then you don’t have to reverify this particular SIM. Question: I have one SIM verified through Biometric Verification, do I still have to re-verify my other (old and un-verified) SIMs of other networks? Yes, please visit your nearest service centre once to make sure that your other numbers are verified as well. Also note that your other SIMs from other operators will need re-verification and you must have to visit respective service centre or franchises for reverification of those SIMs. Question: I am postpaid user, do I need to re-verify? Answer: You should. While it’s not mandatory for postpaid customers to get their SIMs re-verified, and their numbers won’t get blocked on the deadline, it is very reasonable to believe that re-verifying your postpaid SIM is way better than not re-verifying it. Question: I have an MNP SIM, do I need to re-verify it? Answer: Yes, exactly like any other SIM user, you will have to go to your current operator’s franchise or service centre and re-verify your SIM. Question: I have 9 SIMs on my CNIC and I want to keep all of them, what should I do? Answer: If you have more than 5 SIMs (of single operator or all operators combined) registered on your CNIC then you will have to get your 4 numbers blocked, or system will not re-verify any of the SIMs. This is because maximum of 5 SIMs on single CNIC rule is in place. You can either abandon your 4 SIMs and get them blocked or transfer the ownership of these 4 to someone else to be able to use all 9 SIMs. In short, there is no possible way of keeping more than 5 SIMs on a single CNIC. Question: Can I transfer the ownership of a SIM to someone else, if yes then how? Answer: Yes, you can transfer the ownership of any SIM as per usual process. Buyer and seller both should go to service centre or franchise of the respective operator to get the ownership transfer done. Question: I bought this SIM in 2005 but it isn’t in my name, how can I re-verify it? Answer: For countless SIMs bought during those times are not in the name of the owners. And hence your thumb-impression can be of no use as the SIM isn’t in your name at all. However, you should go to service centre or franchise of your respective operator along with your original CNIC, SIM, SIM jacket (if available) to prove that SIM is in your possession and that you are its rightful owner. Officials present there might ask you some questions, such as activation date of SIM etc. to verify your ownership and will transfer the SIM in your name with biometric verification. Once done, you are good to keep the SIM as a verified customer. Question: How may I re-verify a SIM that I know is under my name but I don’t currently have in my physical possession? Answer: You just need to visit a service centre or a franchise with your original CNIC to get all your SIMs verified, either in your possession, or not. Question: My SIM is registered on my B-Form, how can I re-verify it? Answer: You just need to go to service centre / franchise of your respective operator along with your original CNIC. They will upgrade your registration by binding your SIM with your CNIC. If you still don’t have CNIC, then take along someone (from family) who has a CNIC and get this number transferred to his/her name. You can get the number transferred back to your name once your CNIC is available with you. Question: My SIM is in my father’s name who is in Dubai now and he won’t be back for another year, how can I reverify my SIM? Answer: If the SIM that is under your usage is owned by someone else, who isn’t present to get it re-verified for you then you can change the ownership by going to service centre or franchise of respective operator along with your original CNIC, SIM, SIM jacket (if available) and copy of real owner’s CNIC (at least the CNIC number of the owner). Officials present there might ask you some questions, such as activation date of SIM, etc. to verify that earlier owner is your blood relation and they will transfer the SIM in your name with biometric verification. Once done, you are good to keep the SIM as verified customer. Question: I am using a Ufone SIM in Saudi Arabia, how can I reverify it? Answer: You can’t unless your visit in Pakistan is planned during next 90 days. Your SIM will get blocked after the deadline (regardless of the fact that SIM is on roaming and that you are out of country). Sorry but government and operators didn’t plan anything for you. Please note that if SIM is somehow shipped to Pakistan then your local friend or family can get it transferred to their name and get their re-verified and shipped back to you. Please note that change of ownership is not possible without presenting an active SIM. You can always get the same SIM transferred back to your name once you are here in Pakistan. Question: I’m disabled (don’t have hands or fingers), how can I reverify my SIMs? Answer: Unfortunately, government and operators didn’t plan about special cases like yours. Your only way out is to get your SIM transferred to someone else and get it re-verified to be able to use it after the deadline. Question: What is Deadline for reverification of SIMs? Answer: There are two deadline for reverification after which SIMs will get blocked. First Deadline: February 27th, 2015. On this date, all un-verified SIMs with following criteria will get blocked Subscribers in Karachi, Peshawar, DI Khan, DG Khan Cities, Border Areas (FATA) & Balochistan Province Subscribers in Rest of Pakistan who have more than three SIMs per CNIC Second Deadline: April 14th, 2015. On this date, all un-verified SIMs with following criteria will get blocked Customers across Pakistan with two or less SIMs per CNIC per operator Question: Will I be notified about the deadline before my SIM is blocked? Answer: Yes, you will be notified multiple times about the deadline via SMS. However, please don’t wait for the deadline and go to your nearest service centre at earliest to avoid rush during last dates. Question: Can I get an unverified SIM unblocked after deadline? Answer: No you can’t get any un-verified SIM unblocked once they are blocked by the system after deadline. However, you can get these SIMs re-issued with-in 180 days of deadline with a SIM replacement fee. Question: What will happen to a blocked SIM after 180 days of getting blocked? Answer: After 180 days of deadline, if a SIM isn’t requested for re-issuance then operator will not be liable for anything relating to the number. After 180 days, operator will be free to re-sell the number to any customer, that is, SIM and its number will be placed in the pool of available numbers. Question: When Telcos will Start Re-Verifying SIMs? Answer: Just in a day or two. They are waiting for an SOP from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority before the exercise is started. Keep watching this website for any updates. If you think your question isn’t listed here, please feel free to ask them in below comments! Share this with your friends to let everyone know about SIM re-verification process in detail. propakistani.pk/2015/01/12/answers-questions-faqs-sims-re-verification/
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 08:30:27 +0000
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