The personal data of nearly 300,000 people who applied for Hajj has been leaked to the dark web, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman revealed on Friday. Major General (R) Hafeez ur Rehman made the disclosure during a Senate IT Committee meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.
The PTA chief said the data breach was first detected in 2022. He explained that the leaked data included SIM information, which is usually stored by telecom companies. Shockingly, he added that even his own SIM data has been available on the dark web since 2022. He stressed the need for stronger cybersecurity measures to prevent such breaches.
During the briefing, government senator Afnanullah Khan claimed that Pakistan is facing external pressure not to pass strict data protection laws. He did not name specific countries but said this pressure is affecting national cybersecurity efforts. The issue raised concerns among committee members about Pakistan’s ability to protect citizens’ personal data.
The committee also criticized the poor quality of mobile services across the country. Members expressed frustration over frequent call drops and weak signals. They questioned the PTA’s oversight and demanded better service for users nationwide. The chairman responded that solving network issues would require a spectrum auction.
This revelation adds to growing fears over digital privacy and national cybersecurity. With sensitive data being traded on the dark web, lawmakers are under pressure to introduce strict data protection regulations. However, without legal backing and international cooperation, securing Pakistani citizens’ digital identities remains a serious challenge.