The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has begun restricting WhatsApp accounts registered with inactive mobile numbers, aiming to reduce the risk of fraud and unauthorised access.

PTA officials confirmed that action against these accounts has started after the regulator ran an awareness campaign asking users to keep their WhatsApp registrations linked to active SIM cards they control.

The campaign advised mobile users to update their registered numbers if their previous SIM cards had been cancelled, deactivated or abandoned.

The concern is that telecom operators may reissue inactive numbers to new subscribers. If a WhatsApp account remains associated with a number that has changed hands, the original account holder could face security risks, while the new subscriber may gain access to verification messages sent to that number.

The PTA has urged users to check whether their mobile connections are still active and ensure their WhatsApp accounts are registered with numbers currently under their control.

People who have switched numbers can use WhatsApp’s built-in number-change feature to move their account to a new number. Updating the registration can help users retain control of their accounts and reduce the chances of misuse.

The latest action follows the regulator’s earlier warnings about the risks of keeping WhatsApp accounts linked to inactive or cancelled SIM cards.