The quick check: SMS 668
- Open the messages app on any Pakistani mobile.
- Type your 13-digit CNIC number without dashes, for example 3520212345671.
- Send it to 668.
- You receive a reply listing how many active SIMs are registered on your CNIC with each operator: Jazz, Zong, Ufone, Telenor and any others.
The service is run by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and is free.
Check online
PTA's SIM Information System lets you check online too:
- Go to the PTA SIM information portal (linked from pta.gov.pk). Type the address yourself or go through PTA's site, rather than following links in messages.
- Enter your CNIC number and complete the captcha.
- The result shows the number of SIMs per operator.
Avoid unofficial "SIM owner details" websites that claim to show the owner of any number. They are a privacy risk, often contain leaked data, and some are scams. The official check only ever asks for your own CNIC.
Why you should check
- Your CNIC may have been used without your knowledge, for example through misused fingerprints or by a retailer during a past SIM purchase.
- SIMs in your name can be used for fraud, scam calls, harassment or financial crime, and investigations will trace them to you.
- Bank and wallet accounts often rely on your mobile number for codes. Knowing exactly which numbers are linked to you helps protect them. Our guide to digital payment safety in Pakistan covers more.
Check every few months, and after losing your CNIC or phone.
If you find a SIM you do not recognise
- Note the operator shown in the 668 reply.
- Visit that operator's franchise or customer service centre with your original CNIC.
- Ask them to list the numbers registered to your CNIC and block or deregister the ones you do not use. They will verify you biometrically.
- Keep a record of the request, such as a complaint or ticket number.
- If the operator does not resolve it, file a complaint with PTA through its online complaint system or helpline.
Old SIMs you no longer use
If you have old SIMs you no longer use, it is safer to deregister them than leave them active in your name. Inactive SIMs are usually disconnected by operators after a period without use, but the number may then be reissued to someone else, so remove it from your bank, wallet and social media accounts first.
SIMs used by family members
Many people register SIMs for parents, children or employees. If someone else uses a SIM in your name:
- Transfer ownership to them at a franchise. Both of you will usually need to attend with original CNICs for biometric verification.
- Children under 18 cannot hold a SIM in their own name; the SIM must be registered to a parent or guardian.
Related checks
- Is your phone PTA-approved? See our PTA IMEI check guide.
- Balance and packages: our guide to checking mobile balance and packages lists codes for each network.
- CNIC renewal: if your CNIC is expiring, see how to renew your CNIC online.
Key takeaways
- SMS your 13-digit CNIC, without dashes, to 668 for a free count of SIMs per operator.
- Avoid unofficial "SIM owner" lookup sites.
- Block unknown SIMs at the operator's franchise with your original CNIC.
- Check regularly, and transfer SIMs used by family members into their own names.
Service details are set by PTA and the mobile operators and can change. Check pta.gov.pk or your operator for the latest information.