The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) clarified on Tuesday that the audits found no infringements in the recognized sector, which responded to media reports that claimed that subscribers were available online.
In a statement, a PTA spokesperson said that it had no data from subscribers, who stay exclusively with licensed operators.
The clarification came in the midst of public concern and media reports on the possible exposure of sensitive personal data from national mobile subscribers
“PTA has taken note of media reports about alleged availability of online subscribers,” the spokesperson added.
First assessment shows that the reported data sets family data, travel data, vehicle registrations and CNIC copies include that indicate that aggregation from several external sources, not to telecom operators, the official added.
“In his continuous alignment against illegal content, PTA has blocked 1,372 sites, apps and social media pages that are involved in selling or sharing personal data,” read the statement.
The spokesperson also said that the Ministry of the Interior had formed a committee of inquiry that investigated the case.
The Minister of the Interior took note of the reported SIM-Datalek on Sunday and ordered a high-level survey.
The minister was immediately informed of the data leak and searched for an extensive report within two weeks.
In response to the minister’s order, Director -General National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had formed a special research team and aware of the thorough investigation of each aspect of the alleged data leak to determine the source and size of the violation.
The primary objectives of the investigation were to identify the persons or entities responsible for the leak, to determine how the infringement took place and to undergo appropriate legal steps against those involved.
The NCCIA had confirmed that the special research team will present its findings and recommendations within 14 days.
