No internet? No problem. A single SMS to 668 tells you how many SIMs are registered on your CNIC, straight from PTA’s SIM Information System. It works on any phone, even a basic feature phone, and the reply usually lands within a minute. This guide covers the exact SMS format, what the reply really means, what it actually costs, and how to fix it when no reply arrives.

If you do have internet and prefer a free on-screen check, our CNIC SIM Check portal guide walks you through cnic.sims.pk instead. Both channels read the same PTA registry: two front doors into one backend.

Send Your CNIC to 668 in 30 Seconds

PTA’s own wording is refreshingly simple: send your CNIC number (without dashes) via SMS to 668. That is the entire method, confirmed in PTA’s 31 December 2025 press release. Follow these four steps exactly:

1. Type all 13 digits of your CNIC. No dashes, no spaces: 3520112345678, not 35201-1234567-8. A single wrong digit queries someone else’s record or fails outright.
2. Send it to 668. Use any mobile network (Jazz, Zong, Telenor, Ufone, SCOM, or ONIC) and any phone, smartphone or basic feature phone.
3. Wait for the reply. It usually arrives in seconds, almost always within a minute.
4. Read your operator-wise count. The reply lists how many SIMs sit on your CNIC with each mobile operator.

What the 668 Reply Actually Shows

A 668 reply typically looks like this (format varies slightly; this is a representative example, not PTA-verbatim text): “Dear Customer, 4 SIM(s) are registered against your CNIC on following networks: Jazz-1, Telenor-2, Zong-1.” Some replies use a shorter style: “Jazz: 2, Zong: 1, Telenor: 0, Ufone: 1, SCO: 0. Total: 4 SIMs.”

The interpretation rule is simple: counts only, not numbers. You learn how many SIMs each operator has on your CNIC, never the phone numbers themselves and never anyone’s name. Add the per-network figures, then compare against your physical SIM inventory: any number higher than what you actually own deserves a closer look.

How Much Does the 668 SMS Cost?

Here is the honest answer nobody puts in their headline: PTA has not published a fixed fee for 668. PTA’s official wording is “charges may apply”, and every major guide converges on about Rs 2 + tax. Treat “the 668 SMS is completely free” claims as what they are: contradicted by PTA’s own wording.

Practically, expect a small charge and keep a few rupees of balance (or an SMS bundle) on the sending SIM. The cost is the same regardless of which network you send from, since 668 is a PTA short code, not an operator service.

No Reply from 668? Fix It Step by Step

A missing response does not mean zero SIMs. It means the query never completed. Work through these checks in order before assuming anything:

1. Re-read the digits you sent. Dashes, spaces, or one wrong digit are the most common cause. The message body must contain only the 13-digit CNIC.
2. Check your balance. With insufficient balance the SMS may never leave your phone.
3. Check the sending SIM slot. On dual-SIM phones, confirm the SMS actually went out from the intended SIM. eSIM users: make sure the eSIM line is the active sender.
4. Send an ordinary SMS first. If a normal text to a friend also fails, the problem is your signal or operator, not 668.
5. Wait and retry off-peak. Network congestion and a busy short code cause most delays. Try again in 15 to 30 minutes rather than hammering repeat sends.
6. Use the free web route. If 668 stays silent, cnic.sims.pk reads the same registry with no SMS involved.

5 Mistakes That Waste Your 668 SMS

1. Sending a mobile number instead of your CNIC. 668 wants the 13-digit CNIC. To check which network a number belongs to, send “N 03xx3456789” to 76367 instead.
2. Adding dashes or spaces. “35201-1234567-8” fails. “3520112345678” works.
3. Checking someone else’s CNIC. The system reads whatever number you type, but using another person’s CNIC without consent can breach PECA 2016 Section 16 (up to 3 years in prison and Rs 5 million fine). A responsibility, not a loophole.
4. Sharing your reply screenshot publicly. Your count plus your CNIC digits are identity data. Keep them private.
5. Treating the count as fraud proof. An unexpected extra SIM means investigate and disown, not instant panic. Follow the proper PTA complaint route.

668 vs cnic.sims.pk: Which Should You Use?

	668 SMS	cnic.sims.pk portal
Internet needed	No	Yes
Cost	About Rs 2 + tax	Free
Speed	Seconds to a minute	Instant on submit
Result	Count per operator (SMS)	Count per operator (on screen)
Save/print record	Screenshot only	Print or save as PDF
From abroad	Needs a Pakistani SIM	Works worldwide
Best for	Quick checks on the go	Detailed, documented checks

Rule of thumb: no internet or in a hurry, use 668. Want it free, printable, or from abroad, use the portal. Serious users do both once, then stick with whichever fits their routine.

Why 668 Still Matters in 2026

PTA introduced the SIM Information System 668 in October 2009 (official launch 15 October 2009). By April 2010 it had already handled 11 million SMS and 5 million web requests, surfacing 2.38 million irregular connections. In total, 12.6 million subscribers have used the service.

The enforcement wave behind it keeps growing: PTA blocked over 3.2 million SIMs on deceased persons’ CNICs between July 2024 and June 2025, and its 8 April 2026 advisory flagged 8.1 million SIMs sitting on expired CNICs. A thirty-second 668 check is the easiest way to make sure none of that mess is sitting on your name.

FAQs

Is the 668 SMS free?

Not exactly. PTA’s official wording is “charges may apply”, and guides converge on about Rs 2 + tax. PTA has published no fixed fee, so do not assume it is free; keep a small balance on the sending SIM.

What does the 668 reply actually show?

Your SIM count per operator: how many SIMs are registered on your CNIC with Jazz, Zong, Telenor, Ufone, SCOM, and ONIC. A typical reply reads like “Jazz-1, Telenor-2, Zong-1” with a total.

Does 668 show my phone numbers or the owner’s name?

No. The reply shows counts only, not numbers, and never names. That is deliberate: displaying numbers to anyone with a CNIC would be a privacy disaster.

I didn’t get a reply from 668. What should I check?

First re-read the digits (no dashes or spaces), then check your balance, confirm the correct SIM slot on dual-SIM phones, and test an ordinary SMS. If all is fine, wait 15 to 30 minutes and retry; congestion is the most common cause. As a fallback, use cnic.sims.pk.

How long does the 668 reply take?

Usually seconds, almost always within a minute. Delays happen during network congestion; a missing reply means the query never completed, not that you have zero SIMs.

Can I use 668 from outside Pakistan?

Only if you have an active Pakistani SIM (roaming counts, since the SMS leaves a Pakistani number). Without one, use the free cnic.sims.pk portal, which works worldwide.

Does 668 work on all networks?

Yes. 668 is a PTA short code, not an operator service, so it works identically on Jazz, Zong, Telenor, Ufone, SCOM, and ONIC, on smartphones and basic feature phones alike.

What happens if I send a mobile number to 668 instead of my CNIC?

Nothing useful. 668 expects a 13-digit CNIC. To check which network a mobile number belongs to, send “N 03xx3456789” to 76367 (Rs 2 + tax) instead.

Can I check someone else’s CNIC by sending it to 668?

Technically the system reads whatever CNIC you type, but doing so without the person’s consent can breach PECA 2016 Section 16 (up to 3 years in prison and Rs 5 million fine). Only ever check your own CNIC.

668 vs cnic.sims.pk: which one should I use?

Use 668 when you have no internet or want the fastest check on any phone. Use cnic.sims.pk when you want it free, printable as a PDF, or from abroad. Both read the same PTA registry.

Conclusion

A 668 sim check is thirty seconds of effort that can save you from someone else’s fraud sitting on your identity. Type your 13-digit CNIC, send it to 668, read your per-operator count, and repeat the check every few months.

Found a SIM you do not recognize? Our SIM Disown guide walks you through removing it. Prefer the free on-screen method? See the CNIC SIM Check portal guide. For every official method in one place, read our complete SIM owner details guide.