If you’ve ever been a victim of snatching, you’d know that reporting stolen mobile phones can be a bit of a hassle. The same goes for accidentally misplacing your phone. However, in order to streamline the process of lodging a complaint and reporting the incident, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, more commonly referred to as PTA, has released a set of guidelines on how to report and block stolen phones.
So, if you or someone you know ever lose their phone, they can follow these steps to report a stolen mobile online.
PTA Guidelines to Report Misplaced and Stolen Phones
If you have misplaced or lost your mobile phone, you first need to contact your network service provider to get the sim card blocked. Next, please make sure to lodge a complaint with PTA to block the handset via the Lost/Stolen Device System (LSDS). There are two ways you can go about doing so:
- Submit an online complaint form on the official website
- File a complaint through PTA CMS mobile app
Let’s discuss each of these methods in more detail.
Online Complaint Form
Here is a step-by-step guide to lodging a complaint by completing the online form.
- Visit the official PTA website
- Hover above the ‘Consumer Support’ tab in the top navigation bar and click on ‘Consumer Services’ in the drop-down menu
- Click on ‘Consumer Complaints’ in the new menu. It will redirect you to a new webpage
- Choose ‘Online Complaint Form’ to file your complaint
- Select ‘Stolen Mobile Handset / IMEI Related Complaint’ on the right side of the screen
- Fill out the relevant fields with your personal details
What Information Does this Online Form Require?
- Complainant name
- CNIC number
- Email address
- Incident city
- Incident location/area
- Current address
- Father’s name
- Complaint summary
- IMEI number(s)
- Last number(s) in the handset (all IMEI slots)
- Brand
- Model
- Colour
- Reason for blocking
- Incident date
The form also inquires whether the complainant has informed the police. Once you have filled out all the form, make sure to click the ‘Generate OTP’ button for verification. This 4-digit code will be sent to the mobile number you’ve entered in the ‘Last number in the handset (IMEI-1) in the form.
The last step is to click on the ‘Register Complaint’ button at the bottom of the screen.
Moreover, please note that IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It’s also printed on the device packaging and can be obtained by dialling *#06# on your phone.
It is recommended to note down your device’s IMEI number in a separate place at home so it’s accessible even if your phone gets stolen, snatched or misplaced.
PTA CMS Mobile App
Here is how you can report and block your stolen mobile phone through the PTA CMS app.
- Visit Google Play Store or App Store to download the official app by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
- Tap on the ‘Sign Up’ button and enter the required details
- Choose ‘New Complaint’
- Click on ‘Mobile Stolen/Missing Complaint’ in the new menu
- Add the complainant’s name, CNIC number, contact number, and email address
- Select ‘Nature of Complaint’ and add a summary of the incident
- Upload attachments, if any
- Read and accept the terms and conditions before tapping on ‘Register Complaint’
How to Unblock Your Phone?
Once your phone has been recovered, you can unblock it by visiting PTA’s Complaint Management System. Provide your previous complaint reference number or tracking ID to process the unblocking request.
For further guidance and clarification on the topic, take a look at our in-depth guide on PTA mobile registration in Pakistan.
How to Contact PTA to Report and Block Stolen Phones
Here are the contact details for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
PTA Helpline Number: 0800-25625
Email: imei@pta.gov.pk
PTA Office in Islamabad: PTA Headquarters, Sector F- 5/1, Islamabad.
PTA Zonal in Rawalpindi: House No. 161, Street 9, Chaklala Housing Scheme 3, Rawalpindi.
PTA Zonal Office in Lahore: Director (Enforcement) PTA Zonal Office, Adjacent Cantt. Telephone Exchange, 165- Abid Majeed Road, Lahore Cantt.
PTA Zonal Office in Karachi: Director (Enforcement) PTA Zonal Office, Wireless Compound, Opposite JPMC, Rafiqui Shaheed Road, Karachi.
Visiting Hours: Monday – Thursday 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM | Friday 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM and 02:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
How to Check the Status of Your Phone
You can check the status of your stolen or misplaced device 16 hours after reporting the incident.
There are three ways you can go about it.
Option 1: Check the Status via SMS
You can send your 15-digit IMEI number to 8484 and receive a progress report.
Option 2: Visit the Website
Another option is to visit the official website of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and hover over the ‘Consumer Support’ tab in the navigation panel. Then, move your cursor down the dropdown menu to ‘Consumer Services’ and click on the ‘Stolen Mobile Search’ button.
Option 3: Through the Mobile App
Android users can download the mobile app of Device Verification System (DVS) – DIRBS Pakistan to check the status of their lost phone.
Please note that the PTA can only block your phone, rendering it useless to whoever snatched or found it.
In order to track it down, you need to file a mobile theft report with the local police. Moreover, you can contact the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) at 1102, 021-35662222 and 021-35682222 to report your stolen device.
It is also important to mention that filing a false complaint with government authorities is a criminal offence.
That was all you needed to about the PTA guidelines on how to block stolen phones. For any queries or suggestions, reach out to us at blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, you can also take a look at our step-by-step guides on how to pay your taxes via Tax Asaan App and how to file your income tax returns online.
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