In a significant development aimed at curbing identity misuse and improving national digital security, the government has officially launched a nationwide expired CNICs SIM blocking campaign. The decision came during a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at NADRA Headquarters.
Expired CNICs SIM Blocking to Target Pre-2017 Registrations
Under the new policy, SIMs issued on CNICs expired before 2017 will be blocked immediately. This marks the beginning of a phased campaign where NADRA is focusing on removing inactive and suspicious connections.
Officials confirmed that future phases of the expired CNICs SIM blocking drive will target SIMs linked to CNICs that were cancelled after 2017, ensuring that only genuine, active ID holders have access to mobile services.
Only Active CNICs Valid Under Expired CNICs SIM Blocking Policy
As per the decision, only valid and active CNICs will be accepted for SIM registration and continuation. The aim is to prevent mobile numbers from being used by individuals with expired, fake, or deceased CNICs, which have posed major risks in past criminal investigations.
This expired CNICs SIM blocking policy also intends to clean up Pakistan’s mobile network system and make it safer and more accountable.
NADRA to Enforce Biometric Rules Alongside Expired CNICs SIM Blocking
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has also instructed the Interior Ministry to halt independent biometric data storage by third-party organisations. In addition to the expired CNICs SIM blocking plan, this will ensure tighter control over personal data and security.
He further announced that facial recognition technology must be implemented nationwide by December 31, 2025, as part of digital reforms linked with SIM issuance processes.
NADRA Expands Services to Support Expired CNICs SIM Blocking
To help citizens affected by the expired CNICs SIM blocking initiative, NADRA will be expanding its services to 44 additional tehsils and several union councils where identity services were previously unavailable.
By June 30, all 31 union councils of Islamabad will have active NADRA facilities, enabling residents to renew or update their CNICs before facing SIM deactivation.
New NADRA Mega Centre to Facilitate Expired CNICs SIM Blocking Needs
In line with efforts to support increased demand caused by the expired CNICs SIM blocking programme, a 10-storey NADRA Mega Centre is being constructed in Islamabad’s I-8 sector. Completion is expected by June 2026, offering modern facilities and faster processing for citizens needing to update their identification.
The expired CNICs SIM blocking campaign represents a major step toward strengthening Pakistan’s identity verification system and reducing the use of SIMs linked to fraudulent or inactive documents. This action not only improves digital security but also ensures that mobile services are linked to genuine and up-to-date identification.
