Quick Answer
SIM information in Pakistan covers how SIMs are registered, how mobile numbers are formatted, and which network a prefix was originally allocated to. This guide explains all of it — plus the official PTA ways to check the SIMs on your own CNIC: *668#, cnic.sims.pk, and MNP to 667.
An independent guide to SIM information in Pakistan: what SIM registration means, how mobile numbers are formatted, how prefixes point to the likely original network, and how to verify the SIMs on your own CNIC through official PTA services.
SIM registration is the mandatory process of linking every active SIM card to a valid Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC). The requirement, enforced by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), exists so that every SIM in use can be traced to a verified person.
Since 2014, activation has required biometric verification at the point of sale: the buyer's fingerprints are checked against NADRA's database through the Multi-Biometric Verification System (MBVS) before a SIM is activated. The same requirement applies to prepaid and postpaid connections.
Special cases exist. Corporate SIMs are registered against a company rather than an individual CNIC, and foreign nationals can register SIMs using their passport or Pakistan-origin identity documents (NICOP/POC). Limits apply in each case — see the SIM limits section below.
The Multi-Biometric Verification System (MBVS) is a NADRA-managed system that verifies your identity through fingerprints before a SIM can be activated. This ensures that every SIM is linked to a real person and prevents fraudulent registrations.
Visit an authorized operator franchise with your original CNIC. The retailer verifies your identity document before proceeding.
Your fingerprints are scanned on a NADRA Multi-Biometric Verification System (MBVS) device and matched against NADRA's national database in real time.
Once verification succeeds, the SIM is activated and linked to your CNIC in the operator's records.
You can then verify your registration by dialing *668# or visiting cnic.sims.pk. Your SIM count on CNIC updates automatically.
PTA provides several free, official methods to check which SIMs are registered on your own CNIC. Regular checks help you spot SIMs you never registered — and PTA can help you block and report them.
Dial *668# or send your 13-digit CNIC to 668 from any mobile phone. You receive an SMS (PTA charges no service fee; standard SMS charges may apply) listing the SIMs registered on your own CNIC across all networks.
The official PTA SIM Information portal. Enter your 13-digit CNIC to view the SIMs registered on it, with operator details.
Send the word MNP to 667 from the SIM in your hand to check the registration status of that SIM.
If you find SIMs on your CNIC that you did not authorize, report them at complaint.pta.gov.pk, PTA's official complaint channel.
A few key terms recur throughout this guide. Knowing them helps you read official PTA guidance and understand your own SIM record.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| SVMS | PTA's Subscriber Verification Management System — the SIM-to-CNIC registry behind 668 and cnic.sims.pk |
| BVS / MBVS | NADRA's (Multi-)Biometric Verification System — the fingerprint step that activates a SIM |
| DIRBS | PTA's device registry — checks and blocks handsets by IMEI |
| MNP | Mobile Number Portability — keep your number while switching networks; why old prefixes can mislead |
| NICOP / POC | Overseas-Pakistani and Pakistan-origin identity documents — accepted on cnic.sims.pk exactly like a CNIC |
| SIM status | The state of a SIM in operator records — for example active, blocked, suspended, or deactivated |
What does SIM status mean?SIM status describes the state of a SIM in the operator's records — active, blocked (for example after a complaint or a report of loss), suspended, or deactivated. When you check your own CNIC through *668# or cnic.sims.pk, the status shown reflects the operator's current record. If you believe a status is wrong, contact your operator or file a complaint with PTA at complaint.pta.gov.pk.
PTA limits how many SIMs can be registered on one CNIC. Knowing the limits helps you spot registrations you never made.
| SIM Type | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Voice SIMs per CNIC | 5 | Across all operators combined |
| Data-only SIMs per CNIC | 3 | Additional to the voice limit |
| Foreign Nationals (NICOP/POC) | 2 | Passport-based identity documents |
| Corporate SIMs | Company | Registered against the company, not an individual CNIC |
| Total per Person | 8 | 5 voice + 3 data (Supreme Court, Nov 5, 2015) |
Limits are set by PTA and can change. Always confirm the current rule on official PTA sources before relying on it.
The examples below show number formats. Names and details are illustrative and do not describe real individuals.
A standard Pakistani mobile number has 11 digits and starts with 03. The first four digits (03XX) form the prefix that PTA originally allocated to a specific network — for example 0300–0309 to Jazz, 0310–0319 to Zong, 0330–0339 to Ufone (ONIC also uses 0339 and holds 0371–0379 — 0339 is shared with Ufone), and 0340–0349 to Telenor.
From abroad, the leading 0 is replaced by Pakistan's country code: +92 or 0092. The number itself stays the same — 0300-1234567 and +92 300 1234567 are the same number in local and international formats.
“The lookup tool on this site accepts these formats and normalizes them automatically — with or without dashes, spaces, or the +92 / 0092 prefix.”
Every Pakistani mobile number begins with a four-digit prefix (e.g., 0300 for Jazz, 0310 for Zong, 0340 for Telenor, 0330 for Ufone). These prefixes were originally allocated to specific mobile network operators by PTA.
When you enter a mobile number into our lookup tool, the system matches the prefix against published allocations to identify the likely original network. However, due to Mobile Number Portability (MNP), the number may have been ported to a different operator. The prefix indicates the original allocation, not necessarily the current carrier.
See our complete breakdown of network prefixes for the full per-operator allocation. For the SIM in your hand, you can confirm its registration status by sending MNP to 667.
Important: Never share your CNIC number, photographs, or biometric data with unverified third-party websites or apps. PTA has repeatedly warned about fake SIM-checking platforms that harvest personal data. Always use official PTA channels — *668#, cnic.sims.pk, or MNP to 667 from the SIM in your hand.
Check your own CNIC regularly using the *668# service. If you find SIMs you did not authorize, report them to your operator and file a complaint with PTA at complaint.pta.gov.pk. Unauthorized access to another person's data may violate PECA 2016.
For cybersecurity incidents, report to PKCERT.
SIM information covers how a SIM card is registered in Pakistan: every SIM is linked to an approved identity document (a CNIC for Pakistani nationals; passport, NICOP, or POC for eligible foreign nationals) through biometric verification, numbers follow a fixed format, and each 03XX prefix points to the network originally allocated it by PTA. Because of Mobile Number Portability (MNP), a prefix shows the original network, not necessarily the current one.
The limit is 8 SIMs per CNIC across all operators combined — 5 voice SIMs and 3 data-only SIMs (set by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on November 5, 2015). Foreign nationals registering with NICOP or POC identity documents are limited to 2 SIMs. Corporate SIMs are registered against the company rather than an individual CNIC. Limits can change, so confirm the current rule on official PTA sources.
Dial *668# from any mobile phone in Pakistan to receive an SMS (PTA charges no service fee; standard SMS charges may apply) listing the SIMs registered on your CNIC across all operators, or visit the official PTA portal cnic.sims.pk and enter your 13-digit CNIC number.
The 03XX prefix of a Pakistani mobile number indicates the network originally allocated that range by PTA (for example, 0300–0309 for Jazz). Due to MNP, the number may now be active on a different network, so the prefix shows the original allocation rather than the current carrier.
Contact your mobile operator to have the SIMs blocked, then file a complaint with PTA at complaint.pta.gov.pk. PTA also publishes guidance on how to check the verification status of your SIMs.
No. PakSimLookUp is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with PTA, NADRA, or any telecom operator. For official verification, always use PTA's own services: *668#, cnic.sims.pk, or send MNP to 667 from the SIM in your hand.
This guide was compiled using publicly available information from official government sources and regulatory bodies. All SIM registration procedures, biometric verification steps, and official check methods described here are based on official documentation published by the following authorities:
Prefix-to-network mappings on this site are based on PTA's numbering plan allocations and are verified against official documentation. Allocations can change, and MNP means a number may currently sit on a different network. Always confirm time-sensitive information on the official source. See our Data Sources register and Editorial Standards.
Disclaimer: Lynn Batten is an independent cybersecurity researcher and privacy advocate. This guide is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Always refer to official PTA channels for the most current SIM information regulations. See our full Disclaimer, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.