PTA urges dual SIM mobile phone users to register both IMEIs before August 31

As you know that IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique number issued to every mobile device in use today but you might not be aware that phones with dual SIM options have two IMEIs. These unique numbers of dual SIM phones are set at the time of its manufacturing.

As of now, the top telecom regulator of the country Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that all subscribers with dual SIM mobile devices will have to register both IMEI numbers separately before August 31, as reported by Dawn News.

PTA has observed such instances where mobile broadband subscribers who own handsets with dual SIMs have registered one IMEI number against the slot they use. Most users do not utilize the second slot and have either not registered the IMEI number against it or have forgotten to do so. According to a statement by PTA,

“Mobile device users with one IMEI registered, and the second IMEI not registered are advised to register all IMEIs. After August 31, the unregistered IMEI in a dual SIM mobile handset will be blocked.”

Moreover, PTA has detailed that in order to register such devices, users can send an email at typeapproval@pta.gov.pk with details such as a screenshot of the device showing all programmed IMEI, the screenshot of device box showing IMEI(s), copy of CNIC, and contact details of applicants.

So now, you must be thinking about how you can check the validity of your second SIM slot’s IMEI.

How to Check IMEI Validity for the second slot?

• First dial *#06# from your dial pad.
• You will get a pop-up that displays all the IMEI numbers of the phone (depending on whether you have a single SIM or dual SIM phone).
• The validity of all the IMEI numbers can be either checked by sending the IMEI number to 8484 in a text message.
• Or you can visit the PTA website to check it.
• Android users can also download the DIRBS Android mobile app to know this status.

It is worth mentioning here that PTA is committed to evaluating all such requests, and validated cases will be registered accordingly. However, after August 30 such SIM slots would not be registered or entertained.