The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has drafted the Mobile Devices Identification, Registration and Blocking Regulations, 2017 to ensure that stolen phones, blocked phones, and phones with no duplicate or non-standard identifiers are blocked from use in Pakistan.

It will further ensure that mobile licensees actively identify such phones on their networks and maintain and update industry-wide database with information about such phones for the benefit of the mobile services sector worldwide. The regulations are drafted under the Telecommunications Policy of 2015 on the Type Approval regime for telecommunications.

Terminal equipment and feedback has been sought by June 15. According to rules, all mobile operators and type approval holders must ensure that non-compliant mobile devices will not be imported, sold, marketed or connected with the mobile operators' networks. Stolen phones, blocked phones, and phones with duplicate or non-standard identifiers will be blocked from use in Pakistan. Mobile terminal equipment and devices must have a valid and unique IMEI issued by GSMA or an equivalent identifier for connection to a public switched network in the manner set out in these regulations.

The Authority shall establish DIRBS and prescribe Standard Operating Procedures for their implementation on technical, management and operational matters. The DIRBS system will be installed, having the necessary hardware and software to implement DIRBS for analysis. The analysis will be capable of identification of non-compliant mobile devices. It will comprise a core analysis system combined with subsystems to support verification of IMEIs by stakeholders, registration of IMEI paired exceptions, and import of various inputs including operator device data dumps, GSMA device database, importer device lists, and stolen device lists. Analysis will be performed to allow for identification and tracking of non-compliant devices in accordance with these regulations.

A device verification system interface will be provided by the PTA to type approval holders and authorized distributors for registration and identification of IMEI displayed on the mobile device to verify whether or not the device is a compliant mobile device issued certification of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices by PTA.

The format of the system specified in sub-regulation (1) shall be in accordance with an SOP to be issued by PTA on notification of these regulations (2). Authorized distributors and OEMs who are type approval certificate holders will be required to apply for certification of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices to the PTA before import or shipment to market respectively in accordance with format prescribed by the PTA, as well as PTA type approval regulations.

Devices imported and shipped in accordance with sub-regulation (2) above will be eligible for registration. Individuals importing or carrying a device or devices for personal use will be required to apply for certification of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices issued by the PTA in accordance with PTA guidelines and SOPs issued from time to time, as well as PTA type-approval regulations, to become eligible for registration of the devices.

Unregistered devices will be denied mobile communication service and will be included in the black list if found operational on the public switched network. The blacklist will be sent to all MNOs periodically through DIRBS interface. All devices whose IMEIs are included in the latest black list will be denied mobile communication service by the MNO.

Any blacklisted mobile device will not be activated except for lost/stolen and type approved devices which are verified by the MNO and DIRBS in accordance with the SOP approved by the authority. Subscribers may report their lost or stolen mobile devices and get them blocked on the helpline of MNO.

Subscribers can prove the authenticity of their duplicated IMEI device(s) and get them blocked, by submitting valid documents to the PTA and the get services restored through pairing, if the device is ascertained to be compliant after scrutiny of the submitted documents to the PTA.