There are few things more stressful than having your phone lost or stolen. In addition to the financial drawback, forcing the unauthorized usage and potential for the misuse of personal data. The good news is, the government of Pakistan has a great system through PTA in place in the country, allowing citizens to block the stolen or lost device using the IMEI number of the phone. This complete guide covers every step involved—which means that your stolen device will stay unusable to any unauthorized individual.
What is IMEI, and Why Does it Matter?
Every mobile device comes with a unique 15-digit number called the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). It’s like your mobile phone’s fingerprint: there are no two devices with the same IMEI number. This unique identifier enables telecommunications authorities to identify and potentially block certain devices from accessing mobile networks.
Blocking its IMEI ensures that your phone cannot be used on any mobile network in Pakistan, meaning that a person who finds or steals your phone would basically have a useless device.
The PTA has a Lost & Stolen Device System (LSDS)
The PTA developed and implemented an automated Lost & Stolen Device System (LSDS) back in April 2021 for the purpose of blocking stolen, lost, or snatched mobile phones. This is integrated with PTA’s Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), ensuring smooth processing of mobile phone blocking requests.
Key Benefits of LSDS:
- Automated processing of demolition applications
- Interaction with the national DIRBS database
- Blocking by all operators in Pakistan
- What you need to know about Proti0n against unauthorized charges
- If you recover the phone, simple unblocking process
- How to Block Your Stolen Mobile Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Lodge a Complaint with PTA
In case, your mobile handset is lost, stolen, or snatched, the first action should be to file a complaint with the PTA through its Complaint Management System (CMS).
How to lodge a complaint:
- Go to PTA Complaint Management System - https://complaint.pta.gov.pk/RegisterComplaint.aspx
- Enter the necessary information, including your phone’s IMEI number
- Submit your blocking request
- After successfully registering you will receive a reference number for your complaint. Make sure to keep this number safe because you’ll need it in case you find your phone and wish to unblock it.
- Wait until it gets Verified and Processed
- After your submission, the PTA will confirm your information and initiate the blocking request. After verification, the stolen mobile phone will be blocked within 24 hours of the report.
View the Status of Your Phone Block Request
Here are the ways through which you may check the status of your blocking request after 24 hours:
Step 1: Type your stolen IMEI and SMS to 8484
[Web Link] — https://www.dirbs.pta.gov.pk/
Check status using Device Verification System (DVS) application on Android app.
Making a Police Report (Recommended)
The PTA’s mandate is restricting to blocking phones, but it is highly recommended to file a police report as well. This will provide an official record of the theft and may be useful in tracking or recovering your device.
Is it Possible to Block My Phone with IMEI Number in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, you can also block your mobile phone with its IMEI number. Mobile phones that were currently stolen, snatched, and lost can also be blocked/unblocked through PTA’s toll-free number 0800-25625, PTA email: imei@pta.gov.pk or CPLC, Karachi though the new automated LSDS system.
The way to Track a Stolen Mobile with IMEI number?
How To Find Your Lost Phone Using IMEI
Step 1: Report the loss Take a complaint with PTA to block the phone and file a report with local police authorities.
Step 02: Get In touch with Your Mobile Service Provider · Notify your service provider about the theft, mentioning your device’s IMEI number. They can’t track the phone directly, but they can see whether the device is being used on their network.
Step 3: IMEI Tracking Services PTA does not provide direct tracking services, but third party applications exist that claim to facilitate device tracking via IMEI.
Step 4: Use Google’s Find My Device (For Android Users) If you’d activated this feature before losing your phone, you may be able to locate your device via Google’s service.
Step 5: Use Find My iPhone, if you have an iPhone (Android Users) Like Android, Apple offers its own tracking service with the Find My iPhone feature, which can assist with finding lost devices, if set up in advance.
It is worth mentioning that it was only PTA that banned phones. If the phone is stolen, you should contact local police for trace or tracking. Also, note that false reporting is a crime and it will be punishable by law.
Steps to Prevent It in the Future
- To better protect yourself from phone theft or loss in the future:
- Write your phone’s IMEI number down somewhere safe
- Activate tracking services such as “Find My Device” for Android or “Find My iPhone” for iOS
- Back up your data regularly
- Think about mobile insurance that covers theft or loss
- Utilize screen locks, passwords, and biometric security features
Conclusion
PTA has recently established a Lost & Stolen Device System to address these issues and empower consumers to reclaim lost or stolen mobile devices. Learn how blocking your stolen device using its IMEI number can help to discourage mobile phone theft in the future as well.
Don’t forget, immediate action is essential – the quicker you can report and block your stolen device, the better you are protected against the device being misused or unauthorized charges.