Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has extended the deadline for blocking unregulated IMEIs by 30 days.

PTA has extended the date amid coronavirus in order to provide facilitation and relief to the people and also to make sure social distancing is maintained.

The blocking of mobile devices that compliant with PTA regulations will resume from 19 May.

According to the regulations, mobile phones connected using a local SIM are required to register in 60 days from the first use of the device on mobile networks in Pakistan. Due to the extraordinary situation, blocking unregulated IMEIs which were to be blocked between March 18 to May 18, will now begin from May 19.

PTA issued a press release which said, “The aim of DIRBS is to curtail counterfeit mobile phone usage, discourage mobile phones theft and protect consumer interest in line with the telecom policy 2015.

“DIRBS is a forward working solution and is designed to cater for no service interruption for all Pakistani cellular mobile service users,” the press release added.

“After DIRBS implementation on 1st of December 2018, any new mobile device programmed with a non-standard IMEI number will be considered as non-compliant device and shall not be allowed any mobile connectivity/service in Pakistani territory as per PTA/DIRBS regulations.”