PTA Will Block All Illegal and Unregistered Phones After 20, October 2018

Millions of illegal mobile handsets are at the risk of being blocked by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) after October 20 as part of a massive drive against fake IMEIs throughout the country.

According to the PTA, illegal mobile handsets that don’t come with a valid IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number will be blocked after the expiry of the deadline.

In this regard, the telecom watchdog formally circulated an SMS recently, asking people to get their handsets verified and check if it possesses a valid IMEI number. Otherwise, it will be blocked after October 20.

It also directed users to check and match their IMEI numbers with data from PTA by sending an SMS on 8484.

Benefits of DIRBS

DIRBS has been designed to enhance government revenue by allowing devices that have been imported through proper channels. DIRBS will not only monitor devices being brought into the country in the future, but will also check the installed base of devices currently active or being sold in the channel.

Furthermore, DIRBS shall facilitate importers of legitimate devices through legal import channels. In short, DIRBS and its successful implementation will benefit the entire mobile ecosystem in Pakistan.
This is not the first time that PTA has been working on blocking of illegal, smuggled and counterfeit phones/tablets based on IMEIs. In fact PTA made similar attempts previously at least thrice in 2008, 2010 and 2013, which proved unsuccessful as IMEI of phones can be changed easily.
Alongside of maintaining the list of IMEIs of illegal, smuggled and stolen phones under DIRBS, PTA will also have to shut down all those mobile shops that offer flashing of IMEIs of mobile phones.

How to Check IMEI number of a Phone?

Now for the main thing. Checking your phone’s IMEI number is very simple. To do this:

• Just dual *#06# from your dial pad.
• You will get a pop-up that displays all the IMEI numbers of the phone (depending on whether you have a single SIM or dual SIM phone).

Here’s how the IMEI numbers usually look:

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 Watch this Video

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Procedure to Check IMEI

• From Device packaging/box
• From Device (under battery)
• By dialing *#06# USSD command

Procedure to Verify IMEI

• Web Portal: http://dirbs.pta.gov.pk
• Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pk.gov.dirbs.dvspublic
• SMS: Send IMEI to 8484 short code (10 Paisas plus tax).