Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is a government body that is responsible for establishment, operation and maintenance of the telecommunication sector in Pakistan. The vision of PTA is to establish and promote investment regulations, promote innovation, defend customer preferences and maintain high-quality ICT services. Moreover, it also actively promotes high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services across Pakistan.
More About Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
Prior to its formation, the Pakistan Telecommunication Ordinance 1994 laid out the regulatory framework for the telecommunication sector and helped in the establishment of the authority. In 1996, the telecom sector of Pakistan was reorganized under Telecommunication Reorganization Act 1996 and PTA was formed as a telecom regulatory body.
PTA is headquartered in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. Different divisions of PTA, according to its official website, are:
- Commercial Affairs: The division is mainly responsible to ensure fair competition among different telecom services providers while keeping in view the consumer interest and profitability of the operator.
- Consumer Protection: Records and addresses the complaints of the consumers and pinpoints areas of improvement to the telecom operators.
- Coordination: The internal coordination of the authority is managed by the Coordination division. This coordination is based on instructions provided, internal meetings held and letters received by PTA.
- Enforcement: This is the largest division which ensures that PTA’s Act, Regulations, SOPs and directives are enforced as received.
- Government and External Affairs (G&EA) : Helps in corresponding with government offices and ministries. It also works on high-priority, sensitive and time-critical matters of the National Assembly, Senate of Pakistan and Standing Committees.
- Cyber Vigilance: It consists of two departments; Web Analysis Directorate (WAD) and Vigilance Directorate. WAD channelizes and blocks URLs that post inappropriate and blasphemous content and Vigilance Directorate detects and apprehends grey traffic that uses unauthorized IP addresses and illegal gateway exchanges which can cause the loss of millions of rupees to government exchequer.
- Law and Regulation: The L&R division is responsible for drafting, interpreting and reviewing legislation concerning the telecom sector.
- Licensing: This division provides wireless and mobile licenses and allocates radio frequencies to applicants.
- Services: It evaluates equipment submitted for Type Approval (TA) certificate.
Even though all of these divisions are important, commercial affairs, enforcement and cyber vigilance are the most prominent ones.
Functions Of PTA
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s functions are not just limited to operation and maintenance of the telecom sector. As a regulatory body of the sector, it performs a wide range of functions some of which, according to its official website, are:
- To receive and timely process the applications for the use of radio frequency spectrum
- To protect the interests of consumers using the telecom services in the country
- To facilitate the availability of a wide variety of high-quality, reliable, cost-effective and affordable telecommunication services in Pakistan
- To rapidly modernize telecommunication systems and services
- To investigate complaints of consumers to the authority regarding licenses and services
- To make recommendations on government policies specific to telecom sector
E-Services Of PTA
PTA has different services that it provides to the people of Pakistan online. Smartphones are common these days and need to be approved by the PTA before they can be used. This verification process is also one of the services provided by PTA and method to check that will also be discussed here.
The most important PTA e-services are:
- DIRBS: DIRBS is the short form of Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System. DIRBS ensures the use of legal devices in the country on different mobile networks.
- Application for COC for mobile devices: One can apply for the certificate of compliance to technical standards for mobile devices with SIM functionality for personal use or gift. You can simply go on PTA’s website to fill out the application.
- Complaints: you can register your complaints on PTA’s portal to report SPAM, block promotional/unsolicited/marketing content and block fraudulent or obnoxious calls and messages.
How To Check IMEI Or Verify Your Device
An International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique 15-digit number given to every mobile phone device to confirm the manufacturer, model number and phone’s country of origin. Here is how you can verify your phone’s IMEI with PTA.
Steps To Verify IMEI
Step 1: Go to messages and create a new message.
Step 2: Type the unique 15-digit IMEI number of your phone.
Step 3: Send the message to 8484
If you don’t know how to check the IMEI number, fret not. Just dial *#06# from the dialer of your mobile device and the IMEI number of your phone will pop up on your screen. You can then use it to verify your device.
For more information on this, read our guide to verifying your Phone’s IMEI with PTA.
Zonal Offices Of PTA
PTA regulates the telecom sector of Pakistan which is widely spread across the country even in remote areas. To cater to complaints of the public and carry out other responsibilities, PTA has set up zonal offices in different cities of the country. Addresses of these zonal offices are:
Karachi: PTA Zonal Office, Wireless Compound, Opposite JPMC, Rafiqui Shaheed Road, Karachi, 75530.
Lahore: PTA Zonal Office, Adjacent Cantt. Telephone Exchange, 165- Abid Majeed Road, Lahore Cantt.
Peshawar: PTA Zonal Office, Plot No. 11, Sector A-3, Phase-V, Hayatabad, Peshawar.
Quetta: PTA Zonal Office, Near FIA Building, Samungli Road Quetta.
Rawalpindi: PTA Zonal Office, Adjacent to PTCL Cantt Exchange, Kashmir Road, Rawalpindi.
Gilgit Baltistan: Near Rupal Inn, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Khomer, Jutial Cantt, Gilgit.
Muzaffarabad: PTA Zonal Office, B-78, Upper Chattar Housing Scheme, Muzaffarabad.
Multan: PTA Zonal Office, House No.61-A, Main Street Sabzazar, Bosan Road Multan.
Address Of PTA Headquarters
The address of PTA headquarters in Islamabad is Sector F- 5/1, Islamabad, Pakistan. 44000.
Phone Number: +92-51-9225329-31
This brings us to the end of our overview of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. We also have overviews of the Board of Investment, WAPDA, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). To keep yourself updated about laws and taxes or real estate trends, follow Zameen Blog, your best source of property blogs in Pakistan. You can also subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter and Facebook page to receive the latest updates.
