Pakistan continues to expand its biometric verification systems across multiple sectors, with new implementations in telecommunications, legal documentation, and social services. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has implemented Aadhaar-based biometric verification requirements for new SIM card activations, following directives from the Prime Minister’s Office aimed at preventing cybercrime and fraud. The expansion builds upon Pakistan’s growing national biometric infrastructure, which recently included the introduction of enhanced security features for child identification.
The telecommunications sector enhancement is part of a broader initiative following a sector review that identified unverified SIM cards as enablers of criminal activity. “The telecommunications industry is facing strong regulatory winds, especially when it comes to identifying users of SIM cards, and seems to be ready to embrace the possibilities offered by biometry and face recognition to improve the user experience,” says Michelle Roswall, Head of Sales at Checkin.com Group. The development mirrors similar initiatives in other regions, as Thailand and India prepare to implement mandatory biometric authentication for SIM cards by 2025.
In a parallel development, the ICT administration has introduced biometric verification for stamp papers, requiring vendors to attach biometric slips to each document. The measure applies to legal agreements, property transactions, rental agreements, and court petitions. Any stamp papers issued without proper biometric verification will be considered invalid under the new system. The initiative complements recent efforts by Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue to strengthen authentication in its revenue management systems.
The Standing Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety is expanding biometric verification into social welfare programs through the Beneficiary-Centric Payment Model pilot project. The initiative introduces beneficiaries to personal bank accounts, biometric verification, interoperable banking services, and ATM card facilities, with plans to include Muzaffargarh District in the pilot program.
Telecommunications officials globally are reporting similar trends in biometric implementation. “By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we aim to enable seamless onboarding processes that accommodate a wide range of passports and identification methods from around the world,” says Essa Haider, CTO of Ooredoo Kuwait. “All contracting of telecommunications services must be carried out using these identity verification parameters, ensuring that the person requesting these services is effectively the holder of each account,” notes Chilean Telecommunications Undersecretary Claudio Araya.
Sources: ID Tech, The Express Tribune, National Assembly of Pakistan
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