PTA SIM Check by CNIC: 668 SMS and SIM Information System
The PTA SIM information system tells you how many active SIMs are registered on your CNIC with each mobile operator. The quickest way is to SMS your 13-digit CNIC number, without dashes, to 668. If you find a SIM you do not recognise, visit that operator's franchise with your CNIC and have it blocked after biometric verification.
Updated 11 November 2026
What the PTA SIM information system is
Every SIM in Pakistan is issued against a CNIC (or passport for foreigners) after biometric verification. PTA's SIM information service lets you see the SIMs linked to your own CNIC, so you can spot any that were issued without your knowledge.
This matters because a SIM on your name can be misused for fraud calls or other crimes, and the record points back to you. People search for it as 'pta sim information', 'pta sim check', 'cnic sim check pta' or 'pta sim information system'. They all lead to the same two methods below.
Method 1: SIM check by CNIC through 668
- Open the messaging app on any Pakistani SIM
- Type your 13-digit CNIC number with no dashes or spaces
- Send it to 668
- You get a reply listing how many active SIMs are on that CNIC with each operator
Normal SMS charges may apply depending on your operator. The service works from any network, so you can check from a family member's phone if needed. Only check your own CNIC; the result belongs to the CNIC holder.
Method 2: the SIM information website
PTA also offers the same check online. On the SIM information page linked from PTA's website, you enter your CNIC number and a security code, and the page shows the count of active SIMs per operator.
Use only the link from pta.gov.pk. Some unofficial 'SIM database' sites claim to show names and addresses against any number. These are not official, often break the law on personal data, and you should not enter your details on them.
What the result shows, and what it does not
The reply shows the number of active SIMs on your CNIC, operator by operator. It does not show the owner's name behind someone else's number, and it is not a tool to trace a stranger.
If the count is higher than you expect, for example two Zong SIMs when you only use one, that is your signal to act. If you need the actual numbers, your operator can tell you which numbers are on your CNIC when you visit a franchise with your original CNIC.
How to block a SIM you do not recognise
To block an unknown SIM on your CNIC: - Visit a franchise or customer service centre of that operator - Take your original CNIC; staff will verify your fingerprints - Ask them to list the numbers on your CNIC and block the ones you do not use - Keep the receipt or reference number
If the operator does not block it, file a complaint with PTA and attach the reference. Our guide on how to file a PTA complaint online (How to File a PTA Complaint Online (CMS Portal and App)) shows each step. A PTA SIM block on your own number is also done through your operator, for example when your phone is lost.
New SIMs and the limit per CNIC
PTA sets a cap on how many SIMs one CNIC can hold across all operators, and an operator will refuse a new SIM if your CNIC is already at the limit. The exact limit has changed over time, so ask the franchise when you apply.
A new SIM always needs biometric verification at the franchise, so nobody can legally issue one on your name without your thumb. If you see a SIM you never verified, report it, because it suggests your fingerprints or CNIC were misused.
SIMs and PTA phone registration
Your SIM and your phone are checked separately. 668 tells you about SIMs on your CNIC; 8484 tells you about a phone's IMEI. They are linked in one way: to register a Non PTA phone on DIRBS with your CNIC, you need a SIM issued on that same CNIC.
So before registering a phone, check that the SIM you will use is really on your name. Our guides on how to register a mobile with PTA (How to Register Your Mobile with PTA (DIRBS Guide)) and how to check PTA status (How to Check PTA Status of Any Mobile Phone) explain the phone side.
Simple habits to keep your CNIC safe
- Check 668 every few months, and after you lose a phone or a wallet
- Do not hand out CNIC copies without writing the purpose on them
- Never put your thumb on a device for a 'free gift' or 'survey'
- Ignore callers who ask for OTPs or CNIC details in PTA's name
Dual SIM phones make it easy to keep two numbers on your own CNIC. Budget options like the Galaxy A16 (Samsung Galaxy A16) and Infinix Hot 60 (Infinix Hot 60) are PTA Patch Approved box pack units, so a local SIM works, and we deliver across Pakistan.
