ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Tuesday announced that stolen, smuggled and unregistered cellular devices will be blocked at midnight.
Earlier, PTA had said that unregistered mobile phones will become unusable after October 20 and then December 20, however, an extension in time was given both times.
The mobile phones will become unusable as Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) will become active. DIRBS aims to counter the sale of counterfeit and smuggled phones.
While speaking to the media, PTA spokesperson Tayyaba Iftikhar said, “Those phones which have been stolen and have been reported to the authority will be blocked after midnight.”
She also said that phones which will be stolen or snatched will be immediately blocked by PTA or the thieves will be traced and asked to return the devices to the owners. “PTA has devised a system in this regard,” the spokesperson assured.
