ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) on Thursday directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to not block unregistered mobile phones from October 20.
Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Rubina Khalid raised the issue during a session of the Senate Standing Committee on IT today and said the PTA should explain the matter.
The PTA chairman while briefing the committee said that a system had been launched to verify unregistered and smuggled phones.
He added that the system was being introduced to stop the smuggling and duplication of IMEI numbers.
Committee members then pointed out that the public was not properly made aware of the verification process saying that mobile phone users were being asked to send an SMS to 8484 and service charges were also being levied on sending the text message for registration of devices.
The members further said that unregistered devices should not be blocked from October 20 and that the IT minister be present at the next meeting to present his policy.
The members further directed the mobile phone companies to present a detailed briefing at the next meeting and demanded that an awareness campaign be launched for the public.
