PTA Delay in Whitelisting Seized 10,000 Smartphones Stalls Major Auction

The auction of over 10,000 seized smartphones has been stalled due to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) delay in whitelisting the devices through its official system.

Thousands of mobile phones confiscated at key airports — including Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad — remain unsold because the PTA has yet to authorize their activation via the Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). Without PTA clearance, the auction and activation of these devices cannot proceed.

Despite numerous formal requests from the Customs Department, the PTA has not initiated the required whitelisting process. Premium models like iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices are rapidly depreciating in market value due to the prolonged delay by the authority.

Customs officials report that this delay is blocking the generation of millions of rupees in potential government revenue. In an effort to resolve the issue, the Customs Department proposed system integration with the PTA to automate the whitelisting process, which would streamline the clearance of seized phones across the country.

However, a PTA representative claimed that the authority has not received any official request regarding this matter, raising further concerns about internal communication gaps.

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