Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered an inquiry into reports of a major SIM data leak in Pakistan. The Interior Ministry said a special investigation team has been formed under the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The team will submit its findings within 14 days.
According to media reports, data of all SIM holders, including that of the interior minister himself, was being sold online. Information such as mobile locations, call records, and even foreign travel details were allegedly available for as little as Rs500 to Rs5,000.
Officials warned that those involved in the leak will be identified and face legal action.
This is not the first large-scale data breach in Pakistan. In March 2024, a joint investigation team reported that the credentials of 2.7 million people were compromised at Nadra between 2019 and 2023.
Earlier this year, the Pakistan National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) issued a global breach warning. It said over 184 million account credentials of Pakistani users had been stolen through malware and left unprotected online. The stolen information included usernames, email addresses, and passwords associated with government portals, banks, and healthcare systems.
PKCERT cautioned that such data could be used for account takeovers, identity theft, and targeted phishing attacks. It is recommended that users regularly update passwords and monitor possible breaches.
The latest SIM data leak has sparked new concerns over the safety of citizens’ digital identities and the protection of Pakistan’s critical infrastructure.
