Bad News for ‘Non-PTA’, Smuggled Phones buyers as PTA tightens crackdown

LAHORE – If you are planning to get a new cheap smartphone, you need to check new regulation as Pakistan’s telecom regulator has started stern action, and it could turn your latest purchase into an expensive paperweight. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) urged buyers to be extra cautious when purchasing mobile phones, saying illegally imported and unregistered devices are being automatically blocked under the country’s Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). The regulator warned that many buyers unknowingly purchase phones that appear to work perfectly at first, only to discover later that they have been disconnected from mobile networks after being flagged as unregistered or illegally imported. Every mobile phone is checked through its unique identification number under DIRBS system. If the device is found to be non-compliant, it is automatically blocked from working on Pakistani mobile networks, leaving users unable to make calls, send messages or use mobile data. PTA says the nationwide crackdown is part of a broader effort to curb smartphone smuggling, clean up Pakistan’s mobile phone market and ensure that consumers use only legally approved devices. The warning also applies to people bringing phones from abroad. A handset carried into Pakistan without completing the required registration process could eventually be blocked, even if it was legally purchased overseas. To avoid losing access to network services, the authority has advised consumers to check a phone’s legal status before buying it and ensure all applicable Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) taxes have been paid so the device can be registered legally. PTA said the enforcement of the DIRBS system has already reduced the circulation of illegal smartphones across the country while boosting demand for officially registered devices. Imported Mobile Phones to become Cheaper as prices may fall by Rs14,000 from July 1