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Mobile Sahab · 8 Oct 2026How to check a phone’s PTA status before you buy
A phone that isn’t PTA-approved can stop working on Pakistani networks. Here is how to check any phone in under a minute.
Every phone used on a Pakistani mobile network has to be registered with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) through its DIRBS system. If a phone’s IMEI isn’t approved, it can be blocked from local SIM networks.
Step 1: Find the IMEI
Dial *#06# on the phone. You’ll see one IMEI (single SIM) or two (dual SIM). On a sealed box, the IMEI is printed on the label on the side or back.
Step 2: Check it with PTA
You have three free options:
- SMS: send the 15-digit IMEI to 8484 from any Pakistani number.
- Web: use the DIRBS checker on the PTA website (dirbs.pta.gov.pk).
- App: use PTA’s official DIRBS app.
Step 3: Read the reply
- Compliant / approved: the phone is registered and works on Pakistani networks.
- Not registered / non-compliant: the phone may need registration and tax payment before it works long-term.
For dual-SIM phones, check both IMEIs.
Why it matters
A cheap “non-PTA” phone can lose network service, and paying the PTA tax later can cost a large share of the phone’s price. That’s why every phone we sell at MobileSahab is PTA approved and comes with official warranty. We check the IMEI before dispatch, and you can verify it yourself the moment it arrives.