How to Check IMEI Number in Pakistan and PTA Status
Dial *#06# for your IMEI, then send it to 8484 to check PTA approval. Verify a blocked or non-PTA phone before you buy it, in under two minutes.
A man in Saddar hands you a phone that looks perfect, boots fine and costs 30 percent under market. Two months later it drops off every network in Pakistan. The check that would have caught it takes two minutes: dial *#06#, then text the number to 8484.
That system exists because the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority runs DIRBS, the device registration database that blocks unregistered handsets from local networks. With telecom subscriptions past 207 million by March 2026 per PTA indicators, device compliance is enforced automatically rather than by inspection.
Every method for how to check IMEI number in Pakistan is below, including how to read a status reply that says something other than a clean approval.
How do you find the IMEI number on your phone?
Dial *#06# on the keypad. The IMEI appears immediately without pressing call. Dual SIM phones display two numbers, one per slot, and both are registered separately with PTA.
Three other places carry the same number if the screen is broken or the phone will not boot.
- Settings: About phone, then Status or IMEI information.
- The original box: printed on the barcode sticker.
- Under the SIM tray or on the back panel: engraved on many models.
- iPhone: Settings, General, About, scroll to IMEI.
Write down both numbers on a dual SIM device. People check one, get a clean result, and never realise the second slot is unregistered.
How do you check if a mobile is PTA approved?
Send the 15-digit IMEI in an SMS to 8484. PTA replies within a minute telling you whether the device is compliant, non-compliant or blocked. You can also check on the PTA DIRBS website by entering the IMEI there.
- Dial *#06# and note the 15-digit IMEI.
- Open your messaging app and start a new message to 8484.
- Type the IMEI with no spaces, dashes or extra text.
- Send it and wait for the reply.
- Read the status carefully before handing over any money.
Standard SMS charges apply and that is the only cost. Any website or shop asking for a fee to check an IMEI is selling you something free.
What do the PTA IMEI status replies mean?
Compliant means registered and safe to use. Non-compliant means the tax is unpaid and the phone will be blocked when its grace period ends. Blocked means it has already lost network access and cannot be used until it is registered.
| Reply status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Compliant / Valid | Registered with PTA, tax settled | Safe to buy or keep using |
| Non-compliant | Not registered, still inside the grace period | Register and pay the tax, or walk away |
| Blocked | Grace period expired, network access removed | Only worth buying if the seller drops the price by the full tax |
| Invalid IMEI | Number not recognised | Re-check for a typo, then treat as a red flag |
Invalid is the one to take seriously. A genuine handset returns a genuine record. A number the database has never seen usually means a cloned or tampered IMEI, and no price makes that worth buying.
How do you check whether an IMEI is blocked?
The same 8484 SMS reports a blocked status. A blocked phone finds networks but cannot register on any of them, so it shows signal bars while calls fail. Wi-Fi keeps working, which is why sellers can demonstrate the phone as fully functional.
That demonstration trick is worth knowing about. A blocked phone browses, plays video and passes every check a buyer makes over Wi-Fi in a shop.
Insert your own SIM before paying. If it cannot make a call on your SIM, walk away regardless of what the seller says about it being a network issue.
How long do you have to register a phone with PTA?
Travellers registering on a passport get 30 days from arrival. Registration on a CNIC allows 60 days. Miss the window and the device is blocked from all Pakistani networks until the tax is paid.
The passport route is limited to one device per passport in a 12-month period, and it exists for people bringing a phone in personally rather than for local resale.
Tax scales sharply with device value. On a flagship it can exceed the second-hand price of the phone, which is worth calculating before you commit. Our breakdown of the Pixel 6 Pro price in Pakistan shows how badly that maths can go on a high-value handset.
Why does the IMEI check matter when buying a used phone?
Because the seller's word is worth nothing and the check is free. Non-PTA and blocked handsets are the single most common problem in Pakistan's used phone market, and the buyer always absorbs the loss.
Do these four things in the shop, before money moves:
- Dial *#06# yourself. Do not accept an IMEI the seller reads out or shows you on paper.
- Text it to 8484 from your own phone and read the reply yourself.
- Check the IMEI on the phone matches the box and the SIM tray engraving.
- Put your own SIM in and make a call.
Sellers who resist any of those four steps are telling you something. Take the hint.
What else should you check on a used phone in Pakistan?
Beyond the IMEI: battery health, whether the device is locked to an account, and whether it was reported stolen. An iCloud or Google account lock turns a working phone into a paperweight and no amount of PTA compliance fixes it.
- Account lock: factory reset the phone in front of the seller and set it up fresh. A locked device fails at that step.
- Battery health: check in settings, or watch the percentage over an hour of use.
- Stolen status: ask for the purchase receipt. Its absence on an expensive phone is a fair reason to walk.
- SIM registration: unrelated to the handset but worth auditing. Our guide on checking SIMs registered on your CNIC covers it.
If you are buying the SIM alongside the phone, checking SIM owner details confirms the connection is genuinely in the seller's name.
Frequently asked questions about IMEI checks in Pakistan
How do I check my IMEI number in Pakistan?
Dial *#06# and the IMEI appears on screen instantly. Send that 15-digit number in an SMS to 8484 to check its PTA registration status.
What is the PTA IMEI check number?
8484. Send only the 15-digit IMEI with no spaces or extra words, and PTA replies with the device's compliance status.
Is checking an IMEI number free?
The check itself is free. You pay only your operator's standard SMS rate for the message to 8484. Anyone charging a fee for this is overcharging you.
What happens if my phone is non-compliant?
It works until the grace period ends, then loses access to all Pakistani networks. Register it through the PTA DIRBS portal and pay the tax to restore service.
Can a blocked phone be unblocked?
Yes, by registering it with PTA and paying the applicable tax. Once the payment clears, network access is restored to the same IMEI.
Why does my dual SIM phone show two IMEI numbers?
Each SIM slot has its own IMEI and each is registered separately. Check both, because one can be compliant while the other is not.
Does an IMEI check tell me if a phone is stolen?
Not directly. The 8484 reply covers PTA registration only. For theft, ask for the purchase receipt and confirm no account lock remains on the device.
About the author
Author
Fajr Riaz is a well-talented author at Pakera.pk with expertise in creative content creation/writing and storytelling. Fajr's strength lies in creating engaging articles, detailed guides, and straight narratives that connect with readers and give meaningful insights. With her accurate attention to detail and passion for writing, Fajr has established herself as a pivotal pillar at Pakera and is invaluable.
