The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a stern reminder to mobile users across the country that the use of tampered, cloned, or illegal mobile devices is a criminal offense under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Violators of this law may face severe penalties, including fines of up to PKR 1 million, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
The PTA’s announcement highlights the issue of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) tampering, where users alter a phone’s unique identification number to bypass registration with the PTA. While some individuals may unknowingly purchase such devices from the grey market, the law holds individuals responsible regardless of intent.
To combat this issue, the PTA’s Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) filters out non-compliant devices. Only phones that are legally imported and registered are allowed to function on Pakistan’s mobile networks.
To ensure your mobile device is legitimate, PTA advises users to check the device’s status through several methods:
- Online: Visit https://dirbs.pta.gov.pk
- SMS: Send the 15-digit IMEI number to 8484
- App: Use the PTA Device Registration Guide app for Android
Additionally, PTA urges consumers to look for a “PTA Approved” label when purchasing new phones, particularly from online platforms or unauthorized retailers, to avoid legal complications and service interruptions.
