PTA to introduce USSD system for mobile phone registration

In its efforts to expedite mobile phone registration in the country, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is going to introduce a new system which will eradicate the need of internet in registering a mobile phone.

In order to expand the reach of mobile phone registration process to feature phones, PTA has finally decided to introduce the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) system for mobile phones registration.

The newly announced USSD system will allow people to register their mobile phones via SMS. To facilitate the current system of mobile phone registration, PTA is collaborating with mobile operators to bring the system.

PTA claims that the upcoming system will be initiated in a couple of months. It must be kept in mind that PTA’s Device Identification Registration Blocking System (DIRBS) is up and running from 15th of February. DIRBS, the online phone registration system was launched by the collaboration of Customs and PTA. To check if you are registered with PTA, you can have a look our guide here.

Meanwhile, people coming to Pakistan don’t have to suffer in long queues at the airport anymore as they can easily register their phones online. The passengers are simply required to enter details of their travel documents, passport and travel history to use online mobile phone registration system.

Moreover, the Customs counters created for registration of mobile phones at the airports have been winded up. In the reign of PTI, a new policy has been applied, according to which, the overseas Pakistanis are allowed to bring five mobile phones in a year, however, only one duty-free mobile phone is allowed.