Pakistan Blocks 10 Crore Phones: Cracks Down on Fakes, Boosts Local Manufacturing

• Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) blocked 10 crore mobile phones in FY 2024-25 using DIRBS to combat stolen, counterfeit, and cloned devices.
• This action targeted 7 crore fake/duplicate phones, 2 crore with cloned IMEIs, and 868,000 lost/stolen handsets, securing Pakistan's digital environment.
• The DIRBS system, under MDM Rules 2021, has formalized the mobile market, protected consumers, and promoted local manufacturing.
• Local production now accounts for over 95% of devices in Pakistan, including 68% smartphones, with 36 companies like Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo holding permits.
• The government has earned over 83 billion rupees in revenue from device registrations since 2019, and experts recommend India consider similar steps.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's blocking of 10 crore phones tackles fakes, boosts local manufacturing, and generates revenue.