The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed on Friday that the personal data of Pakistani citizens has surfaced on the dark web.
Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez-ur-Rehman disclosed the breach during a Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication meeting chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan.
He explained that the leaked information includes sensitive details such as Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), travel history, and SIM registration records.
“A report emerged three weeks ago indicating that citizens’ data was available on the dark web. After verification, we confirmed its authenticity,” he said.
The chairman noted that SIM data is not kept in a centralized system but stored separately by individual telecom operators.
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Despite this, he raised concerns over how fragmented records were consolidated and leaked. “What’s alarming is the manner in which this data has been collected and published online,” he added.
He revealed that the personal data of Hajj applicants was also among the compromised files. The PTA, alongside the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), is investigating whether the breach stems from old records or a recent incident.
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, he said that a full personal profile of an individual is being sold for as little as Rs500. The disclosure has reignited concerns about Pakistan’s cyber security infrastructure and the need for stronger digital safeguards.