SIMs of deceased persons must be transferred or blocked: PTA

SIM ownership can only be transferred to eligible legal heirs.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has advised people to make sure that SIM cards registered in the names of deceased individuals are either transferred to eligible legal heirs or blocked through the official Change of Ownership (COO) process.

The authority said this step is important to prevent the misuse of mobile numbers and to ensure legal use of telecom services.

According to PTA guidelines, SIM ownership can only be transferred to eligible legal heirs, such as a spouse or close blood relatives. Family members must visit the nearest customer service center or authorized franchise of the mobile company to complete the process.

وفات شدہ افراد کے نام پر رجسٹرڈ سمز کی بروقت منتقلی یا بلاکنگ یقینی بنائیں تاکہ غیر قانونی استعمال سے بچاؤ اور قانونی تحفظ برقرار رہے۔

#PTA #SIMTransfer #COO #DigitalSafety #ConsumerProtection #Pakistan #Telecom #CyberSafety #LegalHeirs #SIMSecurity pic.twitter.com/tujU0kpfCN

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) June 16, 2026

PTA said four documents are required for the transfer: a Family Registration Certificate (FRC), the death certificate of the SIM holder, the original SIM card, and proof of SIM usage. These are used to confirm identity and legal ownership.

The authority stressed that it is important to block or transfer such SIMs on time to protect the telecom system. It warned that unused or unregistered numbers could be misused if records are not updated after a person’s death.

PTA added that this step is part of wider efforts to improve secure and responsible digital communication in the country. It encouraged citizens to get help from mobile operators, official PTA platforms, or the PTA Digital Assistant service.