PTA Approved Check Online: How to Check Any Phone in Pakistan
21 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
Before you buy any phone in Pakistan, new or used, check if it is PTA approved. It takes less than a minute, it is free, and it can save you from buying a phone that stops working with your SIM a few weeks later.
Step 1: Find the IMEI number
- Dial *#06# on the phone. The IMEI appears on screen.
- Dual SIM phones show two IMEIs. Check both.
- Make sure the IMEI on screen matches the one on the box and in Settings > About phone. A mismatch is a serious warning sign.
Method 1: Check by SMS (8484)
Type the 15-digit IMEI and send it as an SMS to 8484 from any Pakistani network. You'll get a reply within seconds. This is the quickest check when you are standing with the seller.
Method 2: Check online on DIRBS
1. Open PTA's DIRBS website (dirbs.pta.gov.pk) in your browser.
2. Choose the device verification option.
3. Enter the IMEI and the captcha.
4. The result shows whether the device is registered.
This method is handy when you are checking an ad online before you meet the seller. Ask the seller to send a screenshot of the *#06# screen first.
Method 3: PTA's official app
PTA has offered an official DIRBS device verification app for Android and iPhone. If you use it, download it only from the official app store listing published by PTA, never from a link someone sends you.
What the reply means
- Approved / compliant: the phone is registered and will work with any Pakistani SIM.
- Not registered / non-compliant: the phone is non-PTA. It may work for a limited time with a SIM, then stop.
- Blocked or reported: do not buy it. The phone may be stolen or blocked by PTA. See how to check if a phone is stolen.
If the reply says "valid" but not registered, it usually means the IMEI is genuine but no tax has been paid. Read what PTA approved means for more.
Common tricks to watch for
- Seller gives you an IMEI by message that doesn't match the phone. Always dial *#06# yourself.
- "Approved on one SIM only." Some phones are approved on one IMEI only. Check both slots.
- Patched or JV phones that pass the check today but get blocked later. Avoid deals that sound too good. See phone scams and how to avoid them.
The phone isn't approved. What now?
- If you haven't paid, walk away or renegotiate knowing the tax cost.
- If you want to keep it, you can register it on DIRBS and pay the tax. See PTA tax on mobile phones and, for iPhones, PTA tax on iPhone.
On VerifiedPhones
Every seller must choose the correct PTA status when posting an ad. If an ad says "PTA approved" but 8484 says otherwise, press Report this ad and our team will act. For a full pre-purchase check, follow how to verify a phone before buying.
