Islamabad: Concerned over the misuse of Afghan SIM cards in terrorist activities in Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered blocking of its roaming facility in the country with immediate effect.
Sharif issued orders for banning Afghan SIM cards after the intelligence agencies had sought complete ban on them.
"On the request of law enforcement agencies, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has directed Pakistan Telecom Authority to discontinue roaming facilities on Afghanistan SIMs to block anti-state and criminal activities of terrorists in Pakistan," the prime minister's office said in a statement yesterday.
According to an official of PTA, the industry regulator has started implementing the orders of the Prime Minister.
The task of total ban on roaming facility of Afghan numbers will be completed in a few days.
An intelligence official said the Afghan SIM cards were being used to detonate bombs and in crimes line kidnapping for ransom.
"It was difficult to trace the people using these numbers as we do not have their record in Pakistan," he said.
According to statement, the measure would be helpful in impeding communications between the terrorists and would also help in reducing crimes related to kidnapping for ransom.
