LAHORE - The new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is going to come into force from today (Sunday), according to which every mobile operator will issue the SIMs after verification of user's antecedents. According to a press release issued here on Saturday, Chairman PTA Dr Yaseen said that PTA has done the job and issued the new SOP to issue the SIMs after verification of user's antecedents. This system has been made operational after concerted efforts of PTA and with the help of all Cellular Mobile Operators. Now it is the responsibility of operators to make sure that SIM's are issued and activated according to the new SOP from Feb 1. During his visit to newly-established call centres and customer service centres of Telenor, Warid and Mobilink for compliance of PTA instructions to implement the new SOP, Dr Yaseen said that genuine customers are the assets for the operators and they must look forward to them for getting more revenues. After three months a review meeting of PTA would be held with all stakeholders. He witnessed the demonstration of new system of activation of mobile phone SIMs and enquired about the verification process to be implemented from today (Sunday). He said that this is a new system and it has been adopted for the greater national interest, safety and convenience ot consumers. After this system is implemented, it is expected that usage of unnamed SIMs for anti-social activities would be reduced and ultimately eliminated. He also said that all arrangements have been finalized by the operators for the inception of new system for issuance of non-activated SIMs and their activation after verification from today. Yaseen said that this system has been made operational after concerted efforts of PTA and with the help of all mobile operators. He also appealed to the mobile consumers to cooperate with mobile companies for the smooth functioning of this system. It may be noted that earlier pre-activated SIMs were being sold 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 (GSA) form. The consumer will then call 789 from the same SIM and Call Center would ask few questions to verify the data provided by the consumer. After the online verification of the consumer's 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 Center of the concerned mobile operator or NADRA Swift Center.