ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a fresh warning against the use of patched phones, stressing serious legal consequences.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a stern reminder to mobile users across the country: the use of tampered, cloned, or otherwise illegal mobile devices is a criminal offense under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, and violators may face serious consequences.
According to the recent announcement, the PTA emphasized that anyone found using non-compliant or “patched” devices, particularly those with altered IMEI numbers, can face fines of up to PKR1 million, imprisonment of up to three years, or both. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in collaboration with PTA, is Authorized to take action, including confiscation of the device.
At the heart of the issue is the illegal practice of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) tampering, altering a phone’s unique identity to bypass PTA registration. While some users unknowingly purchase such phones through grey-market dealers, the law does not exempt ignorance
