by In a decisive move to protect consumers and uphold national security, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), recently raided three shops in Gujrat engaged in tampering and cloning mobile phone IMEIs.
🎯 What Happened?
- On April 15, 2025, PTA and FIA teams conducted joint operations targeting a Zong franchise and a Ufone franchise in Gujrat. They uncovered unauthorized SIM issuance and potentially cloned or tampered handset activity .
- During these raids, authorities seized desktop computers, biometric devices, and an extensive stock of SIM cards purchased using fake CNICs (433 SIMs discovered, with 57 activated via a single device) .
🔍 Why This Matters
Tampering with IMEIs and unauthorized SIM activations isn’t a mere technicality—it poses serious risks:
- Security Threats: Cloned IMEIs allow criminals to operate anonymously, enabling cybercrime, kidnapping, and financial fraud.
- Economic Impact: Illicitly obtained SIMs and smuggled phones cost the exchequer vital revenue from duties and taxes.
- Consumer Risk: Users of tampered phones face service disruptions and potential legal troubles if devices are subsequently blocked .
📈 What PTA Is Doing Nationwide
This Gujrat action is part of a broader crackdown across Pakistan:
- Faisalabad (April 23): 17 patched phones, a tampering laptop, and five arrests.
- Gilgit, Abbottabad & Rawalpindi: Multiple raids uncovering laptops, PCs, and tampering software .
- Karachi and Mansehra (May 2025): Bhundles of equipment seized, several suspects arrested .
PTA continues to enforce a zero-tolerance policy on illicit telecom equipment and practices .
🛡️ How You Can Stay Safe
- Report suspicious shops selling patched, cloned, or box-pack phones.
- Check your device’s PTA approval by sending your IMEI to 8484 or via PTA’s DIRBS portal .
- Avoid unofficial channels—buy from authorized retailers and insist on genuine, box-packed devices.
- Stay alert: PTA’s anti-tampering efforts are ramping up across Pakistan.
✅ Final Word
The Gujrat raids highlight PTA’s expanding mission: stopping illegal IMEI tampering and unauthorized SIM sales before they compromise public safety and economic integrity. If you’re in Gujrat or elsewhere, remain vigilant—report dubious operations and verify your mobile devices to stay compliant and protected.
