What you need
- Your 13-digit CNIC number.
- For the SMS method: any Pakistani SIM with a few rupees of balance.
- For the online method: an internet connection.
You don't need the SIMs themselves. The check starts from your CNIC and finds every SIM registered against it.
The same check goes by many names: SIM check CNIC, CNIC SIM Pakistan, SIMs on CNIC, SIM on my CNIC or NIC, and PTA SIM check CNIC. Some people type the portal's address as cnic sims pk or cnic sim pk. All of them mean the two methods on this page.
Online SIM check at cnic.sims.pk
This is PTA's SIM Information System, and it is free.
- Open cnic.sims.pk in a browser. Type the address yourself.
- Enter your CNIC number as 13 digits, without dashes.
- Complete the security check if the page shows one.
- Press submit.
- A table appears with a row for each operator, the number of SIMs you have with it, and the total.
The portal works on a phone or a computer, and from outside Pakistan.
668 SIM check by SMS
- Open your messages app and start a new message.
- Type your CNIC number as 13 digits. Don't add dashes, spaces or any other words.
- Send the message to 668.
- Wait for the reply. It lists the number of SIMs on your CNIC, operator by operator.
The 668 SIM information service is run by PTA, and it covers every network in one reply.
Each SMS to 668 costs about Rs 2 plus tax. The method works on any phone, including a keypad phone with no internet.
How to read the result
Put the result next to the SIMs you actually use. If you carry one Jazz number and one Zong number, the result should show one SIM against each of those networks.
If a network shows more SIMs than you use, go through the ordinary explanations first:
- A data SIM left inside an old internet device or dongle
- A number you stopped using but never closed
- A SIM you bought for a child or another family member on your own CNIC
A SIM you still can't explain should be treated as someone else's. Follow the steps to block or disown the SIM.
Keep a screenshot of each result with the date. It is your record of what your CNIC looked like on that day.
668 or the portal: which one?
Both read the same record, so use whichever is easier.
| Method | What it needs | Cost | From abroad |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS to 668 | A Pakistani SIM with balance | About Rs 2 plus tax | Works only inside Pakistan |
| cnic.sims.pk | An internet connection | Free | Works from any country |
Check a single SIM with MNP to 667
The CNIC check counts your SIMs. To look at one particular SIM, put it in your phone and text the word MNP to 667. The reply gives the registration details held for that SIM.
This is the check to run when someone hands you a used SIM, or before you attach a number to a bank account or mobile wallet.
Checking for your family
Older relatives often never run this check, and a CNIC photocopy handed over for paperwork can be misused. With their knowledge, run the check for your parents and other family members too.
A person under 18 has no CNIC, so a child's SIM is registered on a parent's CNIC and counts toward that parent's limit of eight. The limit is explained on the SIM information page.
If the check doesn't work
- Type the CNIC as 13 digits, with no dashes, spaces or letters.
- 668 is an SMS short code. Send a text message to it. Dialling it won't work.
- Make sure you have balance for the SMS.
- Check the spelling of cnic.sims.pk. Look-alike sites exist to collect CNIC numbers.
- If one method fails, use the other.
When to check
- Every few months, as a routine
- After you buy a new SIM or get a replacement
- After you give your thumbprint or a CNIC copy to anyone
- If your CNIC is lost or stolen
- If you get messages about a SIM you don't recognise
Common questions
Is the 668 SIM check free?
No. Each SMS to 668 costs about Rs 2 plus tax. The cnic.sims.pk portal is free.
Does the result show my phone numbers?
The result shows how many SIMs are registered on your CNIC with each operator. To check one particular SIM, text MNP to 667 from that SIM.
What should I do if 668 doesn't reply?
Check that you sent an SMS and did not dial the code, that the CNIC has 13 digits with no dashes, and that you have balance. If it still fails, use cnic.sims.pk.
Can I check the SIMs on someone else's CNIC?
The record belongs to the CNIC holder. Run the check for a family member only with their knowledge.
Can I check the SIMs on my CNIC from outside Pakistan?
Yes, through cnic.sims.pk. The 668 SMS service needs a Pakistani SIM.
Is the ID card SIM check the same as the CNIC SIM check?
Yes. ID card SIM check, NIC SIM check and CNIC SIM check are different names for the same PTA SIM check: 668 by SMS or cnic.sims.pk online.
What is cnic.sims.pk?
It is the website of PTA's SIM Information System. You enter your CNIC number and it shows how many SIMs are registered on your CNIC with each operator.
How to check SIMs on CNIC in Pakistan?
Send your 13-digit CNIC number to 668 by SMS, or enter it on cnic.sims.pk. Both show how many SIMs are registered on your CNIC with each operator.
Can I do an ID card SIM number check online?
Yes. cnic.sims.pk is the online check. Enter your ID card number and it shows the number of SIMs registered against it.
Is there a CNIC mobile number check?
The CNIC mobile number check is the same PTA service: it shows how many mobile numbers are registered on your CNIC, operator by operator.
How do I do a SIM registration check for one SIM?
Put the SIM in your phone and text the word MNP to 667. The reply gives the registration details held for that SIM.