Key Takeaways
- Personal data of 300,000 Hajj applicants exposed on dark web since 2022
- PTA chairman confirms his own SIM data also compromised
- Senator alleges foreign pressure preventing stronger data protection laws
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The personal information of nearly 300,000 Hajj applicants has been leaked and circulated on the dark web, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez ur Rehman disclosed during a Senate IT Committee meeting on Friday.
The breach, first detected in 2022, included sensitive SIM data typically held by telecommunications companies.
Rehman revealed that even his own SIM data has been available on the dark web since 2022, underscoring the severity of the cybersecurity failure.
During the session, Senator Afnanullah Khan claimed that Pakistan is facing external pressure—though he did not name specific countries—to avoid enacting strict data protection laws, hindering national cybersecurity efforts.
The committee also criticized the PTA over poor mobile service quality nationwide, citing frequent call drops and weak signals. Rehman attributed these issues to the need for a spectrum auction to improve infrastructure.
The disclosure has intensified concerns over digital privacy in Pakistan, with lawmakers urging accelerated legislation to protect citizens’ data from increasing cyber threats.
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