ISLAMABAD
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has formulated regulations to permanently stop the use of lost, stolen, invalid IMEI number, mobile phones/communicating devices in the country, which in result, will save the national exchequer above Rs 15 billion annually.
At present, the number of mobile phone/device users are above 14 crore, while, 40 per cent of these mobile phone users are using un-registered mobile phone/devices. These un-registered communicating devices are causing serious security concerns and economic losses.
However, with the enforcement of newly formulated regulations named as “Mobile Devices Identification, Regulation and Blocking Regulations, 2017,” it is expected to permanently block and issue denial of telecommunication services to the unregistered communicating devices.
Available documents disclosed to Pakistan Today show that PTA has completed the process of consultation with the concerned stakeholders on the newly devised Mobile Devices Identification, Regulation and Blocking Regulations, 2017. These new regulations will be enforced with the start of October 2017, in the country. With effect to the enforcement of the Mobile Devices Identification, Regulation and Blocking Regulations, 2017, a Mobile Device Identification Registration Blocking System (DIRBS) will be in placed to stop the use and sale of smuggled, lost, stolen and invalid/duplicate IMEI number’s mobile devices in the country.
“These Regulations shall apply to all mobile communications service licensees for the registration and maintenance of accurate data of their subscribers’ mobile devices and registered IMEIs through, for verification through the DIRBS system in accordance with the procedure specified in these Regulations,” it was learned.
PTA officials said that these regulations have been formulated on the complaints of FBR (federal board of revenue) and intelligence agencies as billion rupees tax theft was being made.
Similarly, the use of such mobile devices by the terrorists and criminal networks have caused serious security threats. A Device Verification System Interface will be provided by the PTA to type approval holders/authorised distributors for registration/identification of IMEI displayed on the mobile device to verify whether the said device is a compliant mobile device or not issued certification of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices issued by PTA, officials said.
The officials said that the devices imported/shipped in accordance with the regulations would be eligible for registration. They said individuals importing/carrying device(s) for personal use will be required to apply for certification of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices issued by PTA as per PTA guidelines/SOPs issued from time to time as well as PTA type approval regulations to become eligible for registration of the device(s). Similarly, un-registered devices will be denied mobile communication service and will be included in black list if found operational on the public switched network, the papers added.
According to documents, “All MNOs/mobile phone companies shall carry out extensive media campaigns through SMS broadcasts, at their own cost, to educate consumers for the requirement to verify the validity of mobile devices in their use and the procedure for verification of mobile devices available for sale/purchase, using the field verification system of DIRBS.”
The documents further revealed that in order to ensure compliance of these regulations, the Authority may, through its authorised officer(s), inspect the premises and record maintained by the MNOs/mobile network operators at any time at their customer services outlets or registered and authorised agents of franchisees. And, the concerned operator(s) and their registered and authorised agents or franchisees shall provide all the information and shall extend all possible assistance to the authorised officer(s) or representative of the Authority to inspect the records.
Besides this, all directives, notifications, standard operating procedures and orders issued by the Authority, from time to time, on or before notification of these regulations, shall be binding, and applicable, on the operators.
Last but not the least, the mobile phone companies, without prejudice to the provisions of any law for the time being in force, will ensure confidentiality of information disclosed by the consumers under the provision of these regulations.
It is pertinent to mention here that FBR has confiscated above six lakh smuggled mobile phones after conducting surprise raids in various cities including Peshawar, Karachi etc. as these smuggled mobile phones were being sold in the open market of the country.
