How To Check SIMs Registered On Your CNIC
Every SIM in Pakistan is biometrically linked to one CNIC. This guide walks you through auditing your own — from sending the first SMS to actually understanding what the reply is telling you — using only free, PTA-run tools.
Text your 13-digit CNIC to 668 for the fastest answer, or use cnic.sims.pk for a printable version — both are official, both are free, and both cover every operator at once.
What You Need Before Checking
Nothing here requires an account, an app download, or a fee — but having these three things ready makes the process faster and avoids a failed first attempt.
Your 13-digit CNIC number
Have your physical card or a saved copy handy so you don't mistype a digit — one wrong number returns no result at all.
Any phone with SMS capability
It doesn't need to be a SIM registered to you — the reply is based purely on the CNIC you type in, not who sent the message.
A browser as backup
Keep cnic.sims.pk bookmarked in case your SIM has no balance or the SMS reply is delayed.
Two Ways To Run The Audit
Both of the following are run directly by PTA and both return every SIM on your CNIC, regardless of which operator issued it. Pick whichever suits your situation — you don't need to do both.
Send An SMS To 668
The default method for most people, mainly because it works on any handset with signal, needs no internet, and replies within seconds.
CNIC → 668- Open your messaging app.
- Type your CNIC as 13 plain digits — no dashes.
- Send it to 668 at a standard SMS rate.
- Read the reply — every SIM on your CNIC will be listed by operator.
Use The PTA Web Portal
Better suited when you want a saved or printable record — for instance, before filing a complaint about an unfamiliar SIM.
cnic.sims.pk- Open cnic.sims.pk in any browser.
- Enter your 13-digit CNIC carefully.
- Complete the on-screen verification step.
- Review the full list, including activation status per SIM.
How To Read Your Results
Getting a reply is only half the job — knowing what each field actually means is what lets you spot a problem instead of scrolling past it. Here's what typically appears in a 668 or portal result, and what each term means.
If any entry shows an operator you've never used, an activation date you don't recognise, or a status that doesn't match what you expect, treat it as worth investigating — see the warning signs section below.
Confirming A Single SIM's Own Number
If you already know which SIM you're holding and just want to confirm its number rather than run a full CNIC audit, each operator has its own quick code:
Staying Within PTA's Per-CNIC SIM Limit
PTA caps how many active SIMs one CNIC can hold, counted across every operator combined — not per network. Running a full audit is the only reliable way to see your real total, since a SIM you forgot about still counts toward the cap.
The exact cap has changed over the years, so treat this as an illustration rather than a fixed number — confirm the current limit directly through PTA if it affects a decision you're making, such as activating a new SIM.
Warning Signs In Your Results
Most audits come back clean. But if something looks off, these are the specific patterns worth taking seriously rather than dismissing.
An unfamiliar operator
A network you've never personally used or bought a SIM from.
An activation date you don't recall
Especially one that falls during a period you lost your CNIC or had it stolen.
More SIMs than you remember buying
Even one extra entry is worth confirming, not assuming away.
A status that changed without your input
A SIM you use daily suddenly shown as Suspended or Blocked.
Unexpected OTPs or bank alerts
Verification codes for accounts you don't recall linking to that number.
Calls asking to "confirm" your CNIC
A legitimate operator will never call asking you to read out your CNIC to unlock a SIM.
⚠️ Legal note: Every method above only works for checking SIMs against your own CNIC. Looking up someone else's registered numbers without their consent is an offence under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 — and any paid website offering to do this for you is not a method PTA recognises.
Your Next-Steps Roadmap
If your audit turns up a SIM you don't recognise, work through these five steps in order rather than jumping straight to the last one.
Confirm it isn't an old SIM you forgot about
Check the activation date against your own memory before assuming fraud.
Request an emergency block
Reply to your 668 result or call the operator's helpline to flag it immediately.
Report it to the operator formally
Ask for a written or reference-numbered acknowledgment of your report.
File a complaint with PTA
This creates an official, timestamped record independent of the operator.
Escalate to NCCIA if fraud is suspected
For anything beyond a stray SIM — attempted loans, impersonation — report it to the NCCIA Cybercrime Wing.
For the full walkthrough on removing a SIM once you've confirmed it isn't yours, see our dedicated guide: Remove An Unauthorized SIM From Your CNIC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is checking SIMs on my CNIC free?
Can I run this check for a family member?
Why does my result show a SIM I already replaced?
What if I don't recognise any of the listed SIMs?
Does this check work for SIMs bought years ago?
Is this the same system NADRA uses?
Related & Official Resources
Your CNIC audit takes under a minute
No app, no account, no charge beyond a standard SMS. Just your CNIC and a phone.
Text 668 Now