How to Use a Foreign Phone in Pakistan Without IMEI Blocking (PTA DIRBS Guide)
If you are planning a trip to Pakistan, or are an overseas Pakistani visiting home, you need to understand the local rules before using a phone bought abroad. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) requires every mobile device to comply with national tracking rules, to prevent smuggling and grey-market imports.
There is a legal way to use your foreign phone without paying customs duty straight away. This guide explains how the PTA DIRBS 120-day temporary registration works.
What is the PTA DIRBS 120-day rule?
The Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) is the system the PTA uses to monitor mobile devices on local networks.
- The 120-day exemption: overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors can use their foreign phones on local networks for up to 120 days per visit without paying local customs duty.
- Device limit: temporary registration is limited to one phone per traveller per visit.
- SIM ownership rule: the local Pakistani SIM card used in the phone during the 120 days must be registered in the same name and CNIC or passport number as the applicant.
How to register your phone for the 120-day period
Registering your phone on arrival is a simple online process:
- Find your phone's 15-digit IMEI number by dialling
*#06#.
- Go to the official PTA DIRBS portal, or dial
*8484# from your phone.
- Enter your passport details, international arrival flight details and your phone's IMEI number(s).
- Once the system has verified your details, your phone can use local mobile networks for up to 120 days.
What happens after 120 days?
When the 120-day period ends, the PTA blocks cellular service (calls, SMS and mobile data) for that IMEI. To keep using a local network after that, you must register the phone permanently by paying the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) customs tax, which depends on the phone's market value.
