KARACHI (APP) - Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is constantly monitoring the sale of new SIMs according to the newly launched System of SIM Activation through NADRA verification. PTA Zonal Offices located at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad are checking authorized Customer Services Centres, Franchises and retailers of mobile operators to ensure that no SIM is sold and activated without adopting new procedure already in place from February 1, 2009. In this regard the Authority has directed cellular operators to take all possible measures to facilitate mobile users. The Authority has made it clear that stern action will be taken if any violation is found and surprise checks of retailers and franchises will also be conducted. PTA has taken effective measures to eradicate the menace of unsolicited and unwanted calls/SMS owing to which considerable improvement has been reported while the progress is being monitored regularly. It may be mentioned here that new system of SIM activation after verification of consumer from NADRA was made functional on February 1. Pre-activated SIMs were being sold earlier in the market and could be used instantly after purchase. In contrast, in the new system, a non-activated SIM would be sold to the consumer after checking his original CNIC and filling of Cellular Service Agreement (CSA) form. The consumer will then call 789 from the same SIM and Call Centre would ask few questions to verify the data provided by the consumer. After online verification of the consumers' antecedents from NADRA, SIM would be activated in the name of verified customer. In case of incorrect answers consumer will be asked to contact Customer Services Centre of the concerned mobile operator or NADRA Swift Centre.