The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a crackdown on cloned and duplicate IMEI mobile devices, aiming to curb illegal mobile usage and fraud.

Due to high registration taxes on high-end devices, many consumers turned to illegal alternatives, such as fake IMEI registration.

However, PTA is set to block all such devices in the coming days. In the first phase, users will receive verification messages about their IMEI status and must complete verification within a week; otherwise, their phones will be blocked.

Verified IMEIs will be linked to corresponding SIMs for legal use, while unverified or duplicate IMEIs will be permanently disabled.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) advises affected users to contact sellers or visit FIA offices for assistance.

Authorities urge consumers to buy legally approved, FBR-taxed phones and verify IMEI numbers before purchasing.