We Can’t Stop Import or Smuggling of Indian Phones: PTA

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has clarified that preventing the import or smuggling of Indian-made iPhones and other mobile devices is not within its jurisdiction. This statement comes in response to an advisory issued by the Cabinet Division, which labeled Indian-manufactured iPhones as a potential cyber security threat to Pakistan. In its statement, PTA emphasized that under the Import Order 2022, all Indian products are banned from being imported into Pakistan. Additionally, Indian-manufactured iPhones and other mobile devices are blacklisted and cannot be officially registered in Pakistan. PTA also noted that it blacklists the Type Allocation Code (TAC) assigned to India by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), preventing the registration of Indian devices in Pakistan’s Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). The telecom regulator made it clear that it does not have the legal authority to regulate mobile phone sales and purchases in the market. “Preventing the import or smuggling of Indian-made mobile devices falls under the jurisdiction of customs and other relevant departments, not PTA,” a PTA spokesperson stated. The authority reiterated that its role is limited to ensuring compliance with technical standards under the Telecommunications (Re-Organization) Act 1996 and the Terminal Device Type Approval Technical Regulation 2021. PTA further clarified that it does not whitelist any Indian-manufactured iPhones or other mobile devices. It also confirmed that terminal devices manufactured in India cannot be registered in Pakistan through DIRBS, making it impossible for such phones to be legally activated with local SIM cards.