Pakistanis living in the UAE and other countries can use their mobile phone SIM without being blocked by their government when they’re living abroad.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that subscribers are required to inform their respective service providers to ensure the continuity of their service.
The regulator said that in order to serve the country’s diaspora, it has “introduced facilitative measures to prevent the blocking of mobile SIMs during their foreign stay.
Under this initiative, subscribers may inform their respective service providers to avail this facility for a specific duration, subject to applicable charges (if any).”
This will greatly benefit more than 1.7 million Pakistani nationals living and working in the UAE.
In total, there are around 10 million Pakistani citizens living and working in foreign countries, with more than half, 5.5 million, in the Gulf countries, mostly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“This initiative enables Pakistani citizens staying abroad to retain subscriptions to their mobile SIMs, ensuring uninterrupted access to mobile services through their respective service providers,” the Pakistani regulatory body said in a statement on social media.
Requirements
The prepaid subscribers, it said, are required to generate at least one activity, such as making a call, sending an SMS, using mobile data, or loading balance, within a period of 180 days to keep their connection against their name.
For post-paid connections, subscribers must ensure timely payment of the monthly line rent and any outstanding dues. “Regular and on-time bill payments are sufficient to maintain the active status of the connection,” it said.
PTA advised Pakistanis coming to the UAE and living here to remain in regular contact with their respective service providers and strictly comply with applicable usage and payment requirements to ensure uninterrupted mobile service.
The Pakistani diaspora in the UAE hailed this service, which will allow them to remain connected with loved ones.
