NADRA and PTA have offered conflicting accounts over the use of facial recognition for SIM verification, with NADRA rejecting the impression that it has backed away from the technology.
NADRA had earlier explored using its PakID app for facial verification in SIM issuance. A proof of concept was also conducted with cellular mobile operators (CMOs).
PTA said NADRA had later changed its position and suggested that telecom operators use dedicated hardware at their own end instead of relying on PakID.
NADRA, however, said there has been no reversal.
NADRA told the media, “There has therefore been no withdrawal of facial verification and no reversal of NADRA’s position. What has been clarified is the respective institutional responsibility.”
The authority said PakID was never intended to become the platform for SIM issuance. It was one channel through which citizens could obtain a facial-verification result under NADRA’s Multi-Biometric Verification System (MBVS).
NADRA said banks and telecom operators were also expected to eventually conduct facial or iris verification directly at their outlets using suitable equipment.
According to NADRA, the dispute is about system design and responsibility, not the effectiveness of facial recognition.
NADRA told the media, “The issue, therefore, is not whether facial recognition works, but where the capture takes place, who controls the edge environment, and who remains accountable for it.”
Under the Requisite Access Regulations, PTA decides the verification requirements for SIM issuance, while NADRA provides the identity-verification service and sets its technical and security standards.
NADRA said telecom operators should control the equipment used to capture biometric information because they control the SIM-sale process and customer-facing infrastructure.
NADRA told the media, “The CMO controls the SIM-sale outlet, operator, mobile application and customer interaction. It must therefore control and secure the equipment used to capture the subscriber’s biometric.”
Under the proposed setup, biometric information would be captured by the operator, securely transmitted to its data center and then sent to NADRA for verification.
However, operators would not be allowed to retain biometric data or create separate biometric databases.
NADRA said, “Operator-owned capture equipment does not entitle an operator to create or retain a biometric database.”
The regulations require biometric data to be used only for temporary capture and secure transmission. Facial-recognition equipment must also meet prescribed liveness and security standards.
NADRA said facial recognition remains an approved biometric method under the regulations, particularly where fingerprint verification is not feasible.
The authority also said the operator-side model should not prevent nationwide rollout.
NADRA told the media, “The architecture does not prevent rollout. It establishes clear ownership, accountability, security and scalability for that rollout.”
The regulations allow a compliance period of up to six months from notification, with NADRA responsible for providing the backend verification system, secure APIs and technical standards. PTA would determine the telecom-sector verification requirements, while CMOs would implement the required infrastructure.
Meanwhile, PTA is reviewing the technical and regulatory implications of NADRA’s proposed model with the telecom industry under the Requisite Access to National Data Warehouse Regulations notified on July 28, 2026.
PTA said alternative arrangements are also being examined for nationwide facial-recognition-based SIM verification.
One cellular operator is exploring facial verification through its own mobile application. PTA said the proposal is currently undergoing technical evaluation, after which a proof of concept could be conducted.
Separately, PTA clarified that its role in mobile phone taxation is limited to technical evaluation of devices. The imposition and collection of duties and taxes fall under the Federal Board of Revenue.
PTA said it supports rationalizing mobile phone taxes to improve affordability while supporting local manufacturing and discouraging illegal imports and IMEI tampering.
