The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) decided on Tuesday to block counterfeit and duplicate mobile phones.
According to details, the authority began an operation targeting mobile phones operating with cloned or duplicate Imei numbers. As part of the first phase, all mobile phone users will receive verification messages.
Users who fail to verify their devices will have their phones blocked.
The messages will notify consumers about checking their mobile phone's cloned and duplicate Imei numbers.
Users will be required to provide their Imei details within seven days of receiving the verification message.
Once verified, the Imei numbers will be linked to the relevant Sim card numbers.
Any mobile phones whose Imei details are not verified will be blocked.
Officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) urged the public to contact the sellers or the FIA if their phones are blocked. They advised consumers to always purchase legal, approved mobile phones, ensuring they are taxed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The public was further advised not to purchase phones without warranties or those priced suspiciously low. It was also recommended to verify the Imei number before buying any mobile phone.
