Pakistan’s telecom regulator has launched a nationwide crackdown on unregistered mobile phones, warning that their continued use poses a risk to national security, mobile network integrity, and user privacy.
In a public notice issued this week, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) urged citizens to avoid purchasing or using mobile devices not registered through its official Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). The notice warned that use of such phones could result in serious legal consequences.
According to the PTA, unregistered devices violate regulatory standards, degrade mobile network performance, and can facilitate cyber and financial crimes by exposing users to data theft and fraud. The regulator emphasized that only mobile phones registered through DIRBS after payment of applicable duties to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are legally permitted in Pakistan.
The notice also referenced the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, under which the use, sale, or promotion of unregistered or cloned mobile devices is classified as a punishable offence.
In response to the growing prevalence of such devices, the PTA said it is coordinating with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to conduct enforcement operations. These include raids, arrests, and the confiscation of unauthorized devices from local mobile networks.
“FIA in collaboration with PTA is conducting operations against such illegal activities,” the notice read, listing arrests and legal penalties as part of the response.
