How to Check if a Mobile Phone is PTA Approved in Pakistan
Before buying any mobile phone in Pakistan — new or used — you should check whether it is PTA approved. An unapproved phone can be blocked from Pakistani networks after a grace period. Here are the three easy ways to check PTA approval status using your phone’s IMEI number.
Step 1: Find Your Phone’s IMEI Number
Dial *#06# on the phone’s dial pad and the 15-digit IMEI number will appear on screen. Note it down (dual-SIM phones have two IMEI numbers — check both).
Method 1: Check PTA Approval by SMS (8484)
Send your IMEI number via SMS to 8484. You will receive a reply telling you whether the phone is:
- Compliant / PTA Approved: the phone is registered and safe to use.
- Non-compliant: the phone is not registered — taxes and duties must be paid to approve it.
Method 2: Check on the PTA DIRBS Website
Visit the official PTA DIRBS (Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System) portal and enter your IMEI number. The site shows the approval status for each SIM slot.
Method 3: Check PTA Tax and Duty
If your phone is non-compliant, the PTA website also lets you calculate the tax and duty payable to register it. Pay the duty within the given deadline to get the phone approved.
Tips for Buyers
- Always check the IMEI status before paying for a used phone.
- Official (PTA approved) phones cost more but work on all networks without issues.
- Phones brought from abroad can be registered by paying the applicable tax within the allowed period.
- Box IMEI and phone IMEI should match — dial *#06# to confirm.
Checking PTA approval takes less than a minute and can save you from buying a phone that gets blocked. For the latest prices and full specifications of every phone, see Latest Mobiles in Pakistan on MobZilo, and read our About Us page for our price and PTA-tax disclaimer.