(Islamabad: 11th June, 2019) Apropos a news item titled ‘Mobile Tax evaders stealing passengers’ data’ published in The Express Tribune on June 09, 2019, it is clarified that the information attributed to an unnamed source regarding number of complaints received against illegal registration of mobile devices and other issues in the Device Identification Registration & Blocking System (DIRBS) is factually incorrect.

Furthermore, PTA has dedicated human resource committed to facilitating the public and providing efficient resolution of complaints. PTA is striving to ensure that redressal of complaint be consistent and fair, and is continuously making coordinated efforts to improve and rectify any issues in the process.

With reference to the issue of illegal mobile device registration being carried out under identity theft and IMEI cloning i.e.: fake device being reprogrammed with a PTA approved IMEI. The DIRBS of PTA is capable of tracing and blocking illegally registered mobile devices. It is also pertinent to mention that PTA has referred complaints related to misuse of travel details of passengers to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for taking prompt action under Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. FIA has started crack down on people involved in the crime.