Complete 667 & 668 Guide Pakistan 2026 — Everything About SIM Verification Services

Last Verified: June 2026 | By SimOwner.net.pk Editorial Team — Pakistan’s SIM verification specialists since 2015

Two short codes — 667 and 668 — sit at the heart of Pakistan’s entire SIM security ecosystem. Together, they give every Pakistani mobile user direct, free access to PTA’s regulatory infrastructure, enabling number portability and CNIC-based SIM verification respectively. Despite their importance, most Pakistanis know only fragments of what these services actually do, when to use each one, and how they connect to broader SIM fraud prevention.

This guide is the definitive, comprehensive reference for both 667 and 668 — covering every aspect of their function, the exact response formats you should expect, the security applications beyond basic verification, and how these two services work together as complementary tools in your overall SIM protection strategy. Use this guide alongside SimOwner.net.pk‘s ongoing verification resources for complete SIM security coverage.

668 — The Complete Reference

What 668 Does

668 is PTA’s free SMS-based service that returns all SIM cards currently registered against a specific CNIC or NICOP number, queried from PTA’s central SVMS (Subscriber Verification Management System) database.

Exact Usage Format

To use: Compose a new SMS message containing only your 13-digit CNIC number, with no dashes, spaces, or additional characters, and send it to the short code 668.

Correct example: 3520112345671

Incorrect examples to avoid:

• 35201-1234567-1 (contains dashes)
• 3520112345671 check (contains extra text)
• CNIC 3520112345671 (contains label text)

Expected Response Format

The response typically arrives within 15-60 seconds and includes:

• A header confirming the CNIC queried
• A numbered list of each registered SIM with its phone number
• The network operator label for each SIM (Jazz, Zong, Telenor, Ufone, SCO)
• A total count summary

Who Can Use 668

Any person, from any Pakistani mobile network, can send any valid CNIC number to 668 — there is no restriction requiring you to query only your own CNIC, though using it to check your own registration is the primary intended use case for personal SIM security.

Cost

Completely free — no SMS charges apply for messages sent to 668, regardless of which network you are using.

Availability

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no scheduled downtime under normal circumstances (occasional brief maintenance windows may occur, as detailed in our 667/668 troubleshooting guide).

667 — The Complete Reference

What 667 Does

667 is PTA’s voice-call-based service for Mobile Number Portability (MNP) — generating a Porting Authorization Code (PAC) that authorizes the transfer of your phone number from one network operator to another while retaining the same number.

Exact Usage Format

To use: Dial 667 as a voice call (not an SMS) from the mobile number you wish to port.

What happens: The call connects to an automated system that processes your porting request and generates a unique PAC code, which is then sent to you via SMS — typically within minutes of the call.

Critical Security Note

The PAC code generated through 667 is extremely sensitive — equivalent to a master password for your phone number’s network identity. As extensively detailed in our MNP fraud guide, this code should never be shared with anyone except the network operator you are legitimately porting to.

Who Should Use 667

Anyone wanting to:

• Switch from their current network to a different network while keeping their existing number
• Complete the legitimate technical first step of the MNP process

Cost

Generating a PAC via 667 is typically free of charge under PTA’s MNP regulations, though always confirm current fee structure with your operator as policies can be updated.

Availability

24/7, though processing and the resulting porting timeline (24-48 hours for actual network transfer) operates independently of the initial PAC generation call.

How 667 and 668 Work Together in Your SIM Security Strategy

While serving different primary functions, these two services complement each other as part of comprehensive personal SIM monitoring:

Combined Monthly Security Routine

Step 1 (668): Check your CNIC’s registered SIM count monthly to detect any unauthorized new SIM registrations.

Step 2 (Awareness of 667): Understand that any unsolicited PAC code (received without you dialing 667 yourself) is an active fraud attempt in progress — requiring immediate action rather than confusion about “why did I get this code.”

Cross-Verification During Suspected Fraud

If you discover an unauthorized SIM through 668, and separately receive an unexpected PAC-related SMS, these two signals together suggest a sophisticated, multi-vector fraud attempt against your identity — warranting an especially urgent and comprehensive response across all the channels (FIA, PTA, network operator, bank) detailed in our complete fraud response guides.

Historical Context — Why These Specific Codes

Pakistan’s choice of 667 and 668 as adjacent short codes reflects PTA’s deliberate design to create memorable, related entry points into its consumer-facing telecom regulatory services. Both codes have been stable and consistently available since their introduction as part of Pakistan’s broader SIM registration security framework, with 668 specifically gaining prominence following the 2015 National Action Plan’s emphasis on subscriber verification.

Technical Architecture Behind 668’s Response

Understanding what happens behind the scenes when you send a 668 query helps you interpret results more confidently:

1. Your SMS arrives at PTA’s designated short-code gateway
2. The system parses the message to extract the CNIC number
3. A query is dispatched to SVMS (detailed extensively in our SVMS guide)
4. SVMS searches across all five operators’ synchronized registration records
5. Matching results are compiled into the response format
6. The response is sent back via SMS to your original number

This entire round-trip typically completes in under a minute under normal system conditions, reflecting a well-optimized, frequently-used piece of national telecom infrastructure.

Using 668 for Specific Situations

Pre-Purchase Verification (Second-Hand SIMs)

Before accepting a second-hand SIM, as detailed in our comprehensive second-hand SIM risks guide, ask the seller for their CNIC and have them demonstrate via 668 that the SIM is properly registered to them — providing transparency before any ownership transfer discussion.

Family Monitoring

Parents managing a minor’s B-Form-registered SIM, or family members monitoring an elderly relative’s CNIC for fraud signs, can use 668 with the relevant CNIC/B-Form number even without that family member’s direct involvement in each check.

Post-Fraud Verification Cycle

After reporting and resolving a fraud incident, use 668 repeatedly over the following weeks (not just once) to confirm no recurrence — fraudsters sometimes attempt repeat registrations after an initial attempt is blocked.

Pre-Registration Capacity Check

Before visiting a franchise to register a new SIM, check via 668 whether you have room within the 8-SIM limit (as detailed in our dedicated SIM limit guide), saving an unnecessary trip if you are already at capacity.

Using 667 for Specific Situations

Switching Networks for Better Coverage or Rates

The straightforward, intended use case — when you’ve decided to move from one operator to another while keeping your established number that all your contacts already have.

Verifying Your Number Hasn’t Been Compromised

Periodically confirming that dialing 667 yourself produces the expected behavior (a PAC sent to you, which you simply don’t use if you’re not actually porting) can serve as an occasional sanity check that the basic MNP mechanism for your number is functioning normally — though this isn’t a standard recommended practice and using it too frequently isn’t necessary for typical users.

667 and 668 in the Context of Pakistan’s Broader Verification Ecosystem

These two short codes are the most publicly accessible entry points into a much larger verification infrastructure, as detailed in our complete SIM Information System guide. They connect to:

• NADRA’s MBVS (biometric verification layer)
• PTA’s SVMS (the database 668 directly queries)
• Individual operator systems (which process the actual porting or registration changes that 668 subsequently reflects)

Understanding this connection helps you recognize that 668 is essentially your personal window into a sophisticated multi-layered national system — and that its simplicity (a single SMS) belies the complex verification infrastructure working behind it.

Comparing 668 to International Equivalents

For context, Pakistan’s 668 CNIC-based SIM verification service represents a relatively advanced consumer-facing telecom security tool compared to many countries’ offerings. Many nations do not provide free, instant, self-service SIM registration verification tied to a national identity number — making Pakistan’s system, despite its imperfections in enforcement, a genuinely useful consumer protection tool when actively used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use 668 to check a foreign national’s SIM registration?
A: 668 works with any 13-digit identity number registered in PTA’s SVMS, which includes CNIC, NICOP, and in some configurations, foreign national passport-based registrations (though the format and full compatibility may vary — confirm with the relevant operator if checking a foreign national registration specifically).

Q: Does sending an SMS to 668 ever get logged or tracked in a way that could be used against me?
A: 668 queries are processed as standard service requests; PTA’s system processes them to provide the verification response. There is no indication this creates any negative record against the person making the inquiry — using 668 to check your own (or, with appropriate purpose, a family member’s) CNIC is a legitimate, encouraged security practice, not something that creates risk for the person checking.

Q: If I dial 667 by accident without meaning to port my number, does anything bad happen? A: No — dialing 667 simply generates a PAC code; it does not automatically execute a port. The port only proceeds if you subsequently provide that PAC code to a new network operator and complete the formal porting request at their service center. An accidental 667 dial with no follow-up action has no consequence.

Q: Is there a way to disable 668 queries on my CNIC so no one (including myself accidentally) can check it?
A: No — 668 functions as a standard PTA verification service without an opt-out mechanism, as its core purpose is to provide this exact transparency and verification capability as a fraud-prevention tool; disabling it would undermine its protective function.

Q: Are 667 and 668 likely to be replaced by a smartphone app in the future?
A: While PTA continues to develop digital services (including the Pak Identity portal for various NADRA-related functions), as of June 2026, SMS-based 668 and call-based 667 remain the primary, most universally accessible methods — specifically valuable because they work on basic feature phones without requiring smartphone app installation or data connectivity, an important accessibility consideration for Pakistan’s diverse mobile user base.

Summary: 667 and 668 Complete Reference Card

For Pakistan’s most comprehensive guide to SIM verification services, fraud prevention, and CNIC protection, visit Sim Owner Details — Pakistan’s trusted SIM information resource since 2015.

All service details verified as current PTA infrastructure as of June 2026. SimOwner.net.pk is not affiliated with PTA or any network operator.

Related Guides on SimOwner.net.pk:

• 667 and 668 Not Working — Common Errors and Solutions
• MNP Fraud Pakistan — How Criminals Port Your Number
• How to Check SIM Information With CNIC Number
• PECA 2016 SIM Fraud Law Pakistan — What Is Illegal and What Are the Exact Penalties (2026)
• 668 SIM Check Success Stories 2026 — How 10 Pakistanis Saved Themselves From Major Fraud