A Senate standing committee has revealed that sensitive information of millions of Pakistani citizens is being sold on the dark web for a very low price. This information includes SIM records, identity cards, travel records and even Hajj applications.
PTA officials said that some data is available for just Rs 500 and even the SIM record of the chairman PTA has been hacked. According to officials, data of about 300,000 Hajj applicants has also been leaked, which requires a high-level inquiry.
PTA Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman said that an inquiry was launched in this regard in 2022, which was later taken over by the Interior Ministry.
The committee was further informed that the Telecommunication Authority has so far blocked 1,300 illegal websites, however, there are no comprehensive data protection laws in Pakistan. The Personal Data Protection Bill of 2023 is still pending in Parliament.
Senators and experts warned that such leaks pose serious concerns about identity theft, money laundering and national security. They suggested that the Data Protection Bill be passed immediately, a secure National Data Centre be established and a zero-trust digital system be implemented.
The committee warned that if timely steps are not taken, Pakistan may face a crisis of public trust and security threats.
