PTA runs after mobile phone thief.

You might be among a few lucky people if you have not stolen or snatched your mobile phone. 

If on a fine evening, if you are mugged and your mobile phone is gone, the next thing on your mind will be: how and when to get a new phone. 

Of course, it is very hard for us to survive without a mobile phone for a day or two. 

Why do gunmen ask for one's phone in a robbery even before ordering them to hand them over cash? 

They are sure to get ready buyers of used mobile phones everywhere. 

People on streets are ready to buy used handsets. 

OLX has thousands of prospects buyers. 

Hafeez Centre never disappoints the sellers and buyers. 

Not anymore. 

Once the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) takes the step, which should have been taken almost one decade ago, is being taken now, a stolen mobile phone will be just a piece of junk. 

The PTA plans to enforce a Mobile Devices Identification, Registration and Blocking System (MDIRBS) to stem the use of illegal, smuggled and stolen mobile phones. This is a welcome measure by the PTA which will go long way in protecting users’ data and handsets.

Over the years, the unprecedented growth in the telecom sector in Pakistan and around the world has caused unethical and illegal practices, which is not so surprising, as conmen and mafias try to cash in on with parallel illegal activities of every booming industry. 

The telecom sector has been struggling hard to counter the mafias involved in smuggling of handsets, tampering with the mobile devices identification and trading in stolen mobile phones. According to the draft of the MDIRBS of 2017, the authority will formulate certain standard operating procedures to execute technical, management and operational matters. 

That is all about technology dealing with technology, involving less manual interaction.

The measure is surely being taken on the insistence of law enforcement agencies (LEAs), which saw a surge in crime involving the telecom technology. 

Earlier, the biometric documentation of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) was done in 2014 only after a valley of suicide attacks where the bombers using stolen mobile phones and forged SIMs unleashed death and destruction. Similarly, on religious occasions such as Eids and Muharram mourning days, telephone coverage service is suspended in sensitive areas, which lends credence to the reality of increasing use of mobile phones in terror and criminal activities.  

Without any doubt, LEAs have tracked and captured several criminals and terrorists using the telecom technology. Still, much scrutiny was needed to stop the illegal trade and usage of handsets.

The PTA regulations in the draft address key areas burdening the mobile dealers and manufacturers with uphill tasks. Like, one provision provides that “mobile network operators (MNOs) and type approval holders shall ensure non-compliant mobile devices are not imported, sold, marketed or connected with the mobile operators’ networks”. 

Of course, no established operators would like to import and market non-compliant mobile phones. Who will be responsible if their adversaries smuggle in and market a certain brand that is non-compliant? The PTA needs to establish a mechanism that probes any irregularity before taking an adverse action.

Another provision binds MNOs to block stolen mobile phones and the handsets with duplicate or non-standard identifiers. This can only be done once the mobile users are sensitised about reporting on phone theft about tampering with identities. 

Often, people do not report phone theft. 

They do not care about the credentials of the sellers in case of buying a used handset. 

Several times, they land in trouble when the handset they are using turns out be red.

The system, however, has lots of bright areas: it asks the subscribers to establish the genuineness of their blocked duplicated IMEI device(s), by presenting documents to the PTA and get their device unblocked. The mechanism should be simple and easy to do. The proposed system requires the individuals importing/carrying device(s) to get a certificate of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices by the PTA. MNOs will deny service to unregistered devices and the violators will be put on the blacklist. 

The system carries several provisions for MNOs and mobile phone companies regarding educating the public about International Mobile Equipment Identity Database and respond to public complaints.

Overall, the system is a right and welcome call.