PTA SIM Verification — The Complete Official Guide
Every SIM in Pakistan is biometrically tied to one CNIC. This guide covers every free, PTA-recognised way to verify your own registered SIMs, what the results actually mean, and exactly what to do if you find one you didn't authorise.
What PTA SIM Verification Actually Covers
Since the country's nationwide biometric re-verification drive, no SIM can legally activate in Pakistan without a fingerprint match against a valid CNIC. That single requirement is what makes everything below possible — a free, on-demand, cross-network lookup that tells you exactly which SIMs are registered to your identity, right now.
Fastest Method
Text your 13-digit CNIC to PTA's national shortcode for a reply within seconds, listing every SIM on your identity.
Send to 668Web Portal
cnic.sims.pk for a saved, printable record.
Biometric-Backed
Every result traces to a verified fingerprint match at activation.
Self-Checks Only
Every method here is designed for checking your own CNIC. Looking up someone else's registrations without consent is an offence under PECA 2016 — see Section 5 below for the full legal context.
No Documents Needed
Just your 13-digit CNIC number — no card, no ID copy.
The Two Methods PTA Officially Recognises
Both draw on the exact same underlying PTA database and return identical core information — pick whichever suits your situation.
SMS Verification
Open your messaging app, type your 13-digit CNIC with no dashes, and send it to 668. The reply lists every SIM on your CNIC, grouped by operator, usually within seconds — no internet connection or smartphone required.
✉️ 668Web Portal Verification
Open cnic.sims.pk, enter your CNIC, and complete the verification step. This method additionally shows activation dates and supports saving or printing — useful for a formal complaint.
🌐 cnic.sims.pkRunning The SMS Check, Step By Step
Swipe or scroll through the exact sequence — this is the version most people use first because it needs nothing beyond a basic phone with signal.
Open Messages
Any phone with SMS capability works, smartphone or not.
Type Your CNIC
All 13 digits, no dashes or spaces between them.
Send To 668
Billed at a standard SMS rate, delivery is usually near-instant.
Read The Reply
Every SIM appears, grouped by operator with current status.
Cross-Check
Compare the list against what you actually recognise as yours.
The Security Behind PTA's Verification System
Biometric-Backed Accountability
No SIM activates without a live fingerprint match against the registering CNIC.
Every SIM traces to a verified identity
A fingerprint match at activation means no SIM can be anonymously registered against your CNIC.
OTP and banking fraud is easier to trace
Because the registration record is centralised, misuse involving your number can be investigated and reversed.
You can self-audit at any time
The same database that powers activation is the one you're querying with 668 or the portal — nothing is hidden from you.
PTA can enforce compliance quickly
A confirmed unauthorized registration can be blocked and deactivated through the same regulatory framework.
Found A SIM You Never Registered?
It happens more often than people expect — a mistaken franchise registration, an old CNIC copy misused, or a relative's line registered without asking. Whatever the cause, act promptly using the sequence below.
⚠️ Before You Report
Check the activation date and operator against your own memory first — many "unfamiliar" entries turn out to be an old, forgotten SIM or one registered for a family member. If it still doesn't check out after that, move through the steps to the right in order.
Request an emergency block
Reply to your 668 result or call the operator's helpline.
Get a reference number
Ask for written or reference-numbered confirmation.
File a PTA complaint
Creates an official, independent record of your report.
For the complete step-by-step walkthrough on removing a confirmed unauthorized SIM, see our dedicated guide: Remove An Unauthorized SIM From Your CNIC.
Staying Within PTA's Per-CNIC SIM Limit
PTA caps the number of active SIMs one CNIC can hold, counted across every operator combined — not per network. A Jazz SIM, a Zong SIM, and a Telenor SIM all count toward the same shared total, regardless of whether they're prepaid, postpaid, or eSIM.
The exact figure has changed over the years, so treat the number here as illustrative rather than fixed — your own 668 or portal result is what tells you where you actually stand, and PTA's own channels carry the current official figure if it matters for a decision you're making, such as activating a new SIM.
Confirming A Single SIM's Own Number
If you already know which SIM you're holding and just want its number, rather than a full CNIC audit, each operator has its own quick code — useful, but not a substitute for the two methods above.
⚖️ Legal note: Every method in this guide is designed for checking SIMs registered to your own CNIC only. Checking another person's registrations without their consent is an offence under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Be equally wary of any paid third-party site claiming to reveal SIM ownership data — no legitimate PTA-recognised method charges beyond a standard SMS rate, and handing your CNIC to an unofficial site creates a privacy risk with no legitimate upside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PTA SIM verification free?
Can I verify SIMs for someone else's CNIC?
What information does the reply actually include?
Does the SMS method cover every operator?
What if 668 doesn't reply?
Is there an official app for this?
Related & Official Resources
Verify your CNIC in under a minute
Free, official, and covers every network in a single query — no account, no download, no fee beyond a standard SMS.
Text 668 Now