The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked nearly 100 million mobile devices during the financial year 2024–25, according to its annual report.
The blocked devices included 868,000 lost or stolen handsets, 72 million fake or replica devices, and 27 million devices with duplicated or cloned IMEIs.
The PTA stated that it has played a transformative role in strengthening the Mobile Device Management (MDM) ecosystem through the implementation of the Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). The authority said DIRBS has effectively curtailed the inflow of counterfeit and non-compliant devices, enhanced consumer protection, formalized the mobile device market, and contributed significantly to government revenues.
According to the report, the MDM Regulations, 2021, built on DIRBS and enabled the localization of mobile device assembly and manufacturing in Pakistan. Since then, the ecosystem has expanded rapidly. By 2025, more than 95% of mobile devices used on Pakistani networks were locally manufactured, including 68% of smartphones.
The PTA described this as a major shift towards import substitution and industrial self-reliance. A total of 36 manufacturing authorizations have been issued to local and international companies, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo.
The report further noted that fiscal contributions have strengthened, with over Rs. 83 billion collected through individual-category mobile device registrations since 2019.
The PTA said the reinforced local manufacturing base has improved economic resilience and positioned Pakistan as a potential participant in the regional mobile phone value chain, while continued enforcement through DIRBS has helped establish a more secure, transparent, and self-sustaining digital ecosystem.
