Find SIM Details by Number or CNIC
Enter a mobile number or your 13-digit CNIC to check the registered SIM details instantly — free and within PTA rules.
A CNIC SIM check tells you exactly which SIMs are registered under your 13-digit Pakistani national identity card. Send your CNIC to 668 for a free numerical summary across all five networks, or log into cnic.sims.pk for the full record with names, numbers, and activation dates. Every Pakistani citizen should run this check at least quarterly — it’s the only way to catch unauthorised SIM activations on your identity before they become a fraud or harassment liability you carry. For a broader overview of Pakistan’s SIM verification ecosystem, see SIM information Pakistan.
Want to verify or Check SIM owner details in Pakistan the right way? Our platform lets you check your own SIM registration data or look up publicly available contact information — all within PTA regulations. Every search is designed with accuracy, user privacy, and responsible usage at its core.
CNIC Data Lookup
Why every Pakistani should do a CNIC SIM check
Any SIM registered against your CNIC is legally yours. That sentence carries more weight than most people realise. If a SIM on your CNIC is used for fraud, harassment, terrorism financing, or any other offence, the investigation starts with you. You'll be asked to explain a SIM you may not even know exists.
Four common scenarios make this real:
- Dealer fraud at activation. A franchise shopkeeper biometrically verifies you for one SIM and quietly activates a second on your CNIC for resale. This was rampant before 2018 and still happens at smaller franchises. The extra SIM goes to someone you've never met.
- Family member borrowed your CNIC. A relative — usually an adult son or daughter handling paperwork for elderly parents — used your CNIC to activate a SIM. The intent was harmless; the result is a SIM bound to your identity that you don't control.
- Identity theft through a lost or copied CNIC. Someone who has your CNIC details persuades a complicit dealer to register SIMs for them.
- The forgotten old SIM. A SIM you stopped using years ago is still active in SVMS because it was never formally released. It counts against your five-SIM limit and remains on your record.
A periodic CNIC SIM check catches all four. Running it quarterly takes thirty seconds and protects you from problems that would take months to unwind if they escalated.
How to do a CNIC SIM check — free, in 30 seconds
Two free methods cover the full check. Most people start with 668 and only open the portal if the count looks off. For a direct side-by-side of both SMS methods, see 667 vs 668 Pakistan.
| Method | Returns | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| SMS your CNIC to 668 | Count per network | Quick audit |
| cnic.sims.pk portal | Full numbers, dates, status | When the count needs investigation |
The 668 service gives you a fast picture: how many SIMs do you have on each operator? If the count matches your memory, you're done in under a minute. If a count is higher than expected, the portal gives you the individual numbers so you can identify which SIM is unfamiliar.
Method 1: CNIC SIM check via 668 SMS
The 668 SMS service is PTA's free CNIC-wide audit. From any active Pakistani SIM:
- Open the SMS app on your phone.
- Type your 13-digit CNIC. No dashes. No spaces. Numbers only.
- Send to 668.
- Wait around 30 seconds for the reply.
The reply lists how many SIMs are registered against your CNIC across each of the five operators:
Jazz: 2, Zong: 1, Telenor: 0, Ufone: 1, SCO: 0 — Total: 4 SIMs.
Decoding this reply takes a moment. The number for each network is the count of active or pending SIMs in your name on that operator. Blocked but not yet released SIMs are usually included; permanently released SIMs are not. Postpaid and prepaid count together against the total.
The SMS itself may cost Rs.2 at carrier rates. The 668 lookup is free.
Common errors and their fixes:
- "Invalid CNIC format." You included dashes or spaces. Strip them and resend.
- "No record found." Your CNIC isn't in NADRA yet (rare for adults) or the SIM you're sending from is registered to someone else's CNIC, which confuses some routing. Try from a different SIM.
- The count shows zero when you have a SIM. Three possibilities: SIM was activated under a different CNIC, recently activated SIM hasn't synced yet (wait 24 hours), or the SIM is registered to a NICOP rather than a CNIC. Check cnic.sims.pk for clarity.
- Foreigner with NICOP. 668 sometimes errors on NICOP numbers; the portal handles them more reliably.
For the standalone walkthrough including network-specific edge cases, see the 668 method page.
Method 2: CNIC SIM check via cnic.sims.pk
The cnic.sims.pk portal is PTA's free web equivalent of the 668 service, with more detail. It requires OTP verification, which means you need access to at least one of your registered numbers.
The portal walkthrough:
- Open cnic.sims.pk in any browser.
- Enter your 13-digit CNIC.
- Complete the captcha.
- Receive an OTP on one of your registered numbers.
- Enter the OTP.
- View your full SIM record.
What the portal shows that SMS doesn't:
- Each individual SIM number — not just counts.
- Activation dates — when each SIM was biometrically registered.
- Biometric verification status — verified, pending, or failed.
- Current SIM status — active, suspended, blocked, or under re-verification.
The portal is slower than SMS — typically a minute end-to-end and longer during peak evening hours. If it returns a timeout, retry late at night or fall back to 668 for the count.
Mobile and desktop access both work. The OTP step is the main accessibility blocker: if you've lost your only SIM, the portal won't help you recover access. Visit any operator franchise with your CNIC to restore portal eligibility through a temporary SIM first.
How to read your CNIC SIM check results
The 668 reply gives you a count; the portal gives you identities. Both follow the same underlying rules:
- Active SIMs count. Anything currently in service.
- Pending verification SIMs count. SIMs in a grace period after activation or after a re-verification trigger.
- Blocked SIMs count for the limit. A SIM blocked for non-verification still occupies a slot against your five-SIM limit until the network formally releases it (typically 90 days after blocking).
- Released SIMs don't count. Once an operator releases the SIM and recycles the number, it's gone from your record.
- Postpaid and prepaid count together. PTA's five-SIM limit isn't split between the two.
A common surprise: the count is higher than you remember because of old blocked SIMs you forgot existed. Run cnic.sims.pk to identify them, then follow the release process at the relevant franchise to drop them from your count permanently.
For the limit details, see PTA SIM limit per CNIC Pakistan.
What to do if your CNIC SIM check shows unknown SIMs
An unknown SIM on your CNIC needs prompt attention. The action plan that works in practice:
- Re-run 668 to confirm. Sometimes a SMS reply arrives partial or a count looks off because of a transient SVMS sync issue. A second check 30 minutes later confirms the result.
- Identify the network. The 668 count tells you which operator has the unknown SIM. You'll engage with that operator's franchise system, not a generic PTA office.
- Log into cnic.sims.pk for the number. This tells you the specific 11-digit number that's unaccounted for, along with the activation date and verification status.
- Visit the relevant operator's franchise. Take your CNIC. Show them the number from your portal record. Request the activation history — when the SIM was registered, at which franchise. Ask for deactivation. The network-specific deactivation guides are available for Jazz, Zong, Ufone, and Telenor.
- File a PTA complaint if dealer fraud is confirmed. Use complaint.pta.gov.pk. PTA takes franchise-level fraud seriously and can investigate the dealer involved.
The full deactivation walkthrough including network-specific procedures is at deactivate extra SIM Pakistan.
How many SIMs can be on one CNIC?
PTA's current limit is five active SIMs per CNIC combined across prepaid and postpaid. The limit was reduced in 2024 from earlier higher caps as part of PTA's enforcement program against fraud and unverified registrations.
What hitting the limit means in practice:
- Your next attempted activation will be refused at the biometric stage.
- The system tells you to deactivate an existing SIM first.
- Old blocked-but-not-released SIMs still count, which is why some users hit the limit unexpectedly.
For the timeline of limit changes, exemptions for corporate or IoT SIMs, and how to free up a slot, see PTA SIM limit per CNIC Pakistan.
CNIC SIM check for minors and elderly relatives
Two cases where the check has elevated importance:
Minors with a B-Form. Pakistani citizens under 18 don't have CNICs — they have B-Forms. The PTA biometric mandate requires CNIC + adult biometric for SIM activation, so a properly compliant system should show zero SIMs on any minor's B-Form. If you run a check (via parent or guardian access) and find a SIM registered, that's fraud. The path is the same as for any unknown SIM, plus a PTA complaint flagging the franchise.
Elderly relatives. Elderly parents often have legacy SIMs from sons, dealers, or service providers who handled their paperwork over the years. A periodic check catches SIMs they don't remember and aren't using. With their consent and CNIC, you can run 668 from their SIM or log into the portal on their behalf. For mobility-limited elderly relatives, a notarised power of attorney lets you visit franchises to deactivate unused SIMs without dragging them to the counter.
CNIC SIM check vs SIM check by number — different tools
These are commonly confused but answer different questions:
- CNIC SIM check asks "what's registered against my identity?" It looks across all networks, returning everything on your CNIC. This is what 668 and cnic.sims.pk deliver.
- SIM check by number asks "who owns this specific number?" The official methods (667 for your own SIM, 76367 for network identification) cover the cases that are publicly supported.
If your concern is identity protection, the CNIC SIM check is the right tool. If your concern is a specific number — yours or someone else's — see SIM details by number. For a full treatment of what the official database shows and what it doesn't, see SIM database online Pakistan.
Free vs paid CNIC SIM check services
The official PTA channels — 668, 667, the portal — cover almost every legitimate need at zero cost. Paid services have a place only in narrow cases:
- You've lost your only SIM and can't receive the portal OTP. Visiting a franchise is the official fix; paid intermediaries don't help here.
- A deceased relative's records need formal documentation. Succession processes through NADRA + PTA + operator franchises handle this; intermediary services occasionally smooth the paperwork but don't expose information the family can't legally obtain themselves.
- Recovery of a blocked SIM under dispute. Operator franchises handle this directly. Third-party "recovery services" usually don't have any access you don't.Compliance note: No legitimate paid service can return another person's SIM record without their consent. Sites offering "premium CNIC lookup" for strangers' numbers are running on the same leaked 2013 dataset that public scraper sites use. For context on why that data is unreliable, see fresh SIM database Pakistan.
Frequently asked questions
Is CNIC SIM check free?
Yes. The 668 SMS service and the cnic.sims.pk portal are both free. Standard SMS charges apply at carrier rates (typically Rs.2).
How long does a CNIC SIM check take?
The 668 SMS reply usually arrives in under 30 seconds. The portal takes about a minute end-to-end including the OTP step.
Can I check SIMs on my CNIC without an active SIM?
The 668 SMS needs you to send from some active SIM. The portal needs an OTP to a registered number. If you've lost all your SIMs, visit any operator franchise with your CNIC to restore access.
What if my CNIC doesn't show in 668?
Strip dashes and spaces from your CNIC and resend. If still no result, your CNIC may not be linked to any SIM (rare) or the SIM you're sending from is on a different CNIC. Try cnic.sims.pk for clearer error messaging.
Can I check someone else's CNIC SIMs?
No. The official channels only return records for the CNIC submitted, and the OTP requirement on the portal blocks third-party access. Looking up someone else's SIMs without consent may violate Section 6 of PECA 2016.
Does CNIC SIM check work for NICOP or POC holders?
The portal handles NICOP and POC more reliably than 668. Overseas Pakistanis are encouraged to use the portal directly.
How often should I do a CNIC SIM check?
Quarterly is a good baseline. Also check after losing your CNIC, after marriage (name change implications), after turning 18, and after returning from time abroad. The live SIM tracker can help you spot irregularities between quarterly checks.
What does "verification pending" mean on a SIM in my record?
The biometric binding wasn't completed at activation or has been flagged for re-verification. Visit the operator's franchise with your CNIC and provide fresh biometrics to clear the flag.
Can a CNIC SIM check show SIMs registered under a different CNIC I once had?
NADRA's CNIC numbers don't change unless the citizen requests a re-issuance (rare). The lookup keys to your current CNIC, which is the canonical identifier for all your records.
Does the operator know I'm running a CNIC SIM check on my own record?
The 668 SMS goes through your operator's network but the response comes from PTA. Operators don't actively monitor citizen-initiated lookups; they have no commercial reason to.