This guide covers IMEI verification through PTA DIRBS — finding your IMEI, using the portal, the 8484 SMS check, and the complete pre-purchase verification checklist for used phones.
Three Ways to Find Your IMEI
Every mobile phone has a unique 15-digit IMEI. Find it using any of these methods: dial *#06# on any mobile phone — the IMEI displays immediately and this works on every device regardless of brand; check Settings then About Phone then IMEI on Android devices, or Settings then General then About on iPhones; or look at the IMEI printed on the original retail box and (on some older models) on a label under the battery or on the back panel. Dual-SIM phones have two separate IMEIs — check and verify both.
Check IMEI at the DIRBS Portal
Go to dirbs.pta.gov.pk and use the IMEI Check tool — no login required for a basic check. Enter the 15-digit IMEI without any spaces or dashes. The result shows: the phone make and model that GSMA's global database associates with this IMEI; the registration and compliance status for Pakistani networks; and whether the IMEI is on the stolen device blacklist. This information is what you need to verify before any second-hand phone purchase.
Quick Verification via SMS to 8484
Send the IMEI number as an SMS to 8484 from any phone with a Pakistani SIM card. The reply arrives within approximately 30 seconds and shows the compliance status (Compliant, Non-Compliant, or Stolen) along with the associated device brand and model name. This is the fastest method for a field check when you don't have internet access for the DIRBS portal.
Complete Pre-Purchase Verification Checklist
Before buying any second-hand mobile phone, run this three-step check: Step 1: Dial *#06# on the device and confirm the displayed IMEI exactly matches the IMEI on the box or back label. Step 2: SMS the IMEI to 8484 — confirm the result is Compliant and the device model name matches what is being offered for sale. Step 3: Check dirbs.pta.gov.pk — confirm the IMEI isn't on the stolen device register. If all three pass, the device is legitimate and safe to purchase.
Device and SIM Problems
IMEI cloning — the IMEI from another device has been illegally programmed onto this phone. This is a definitive indicator of a stolen or counterfeit device. Don't proceed with the purchase under any circumstances.
Either the box is from a different phone, or the phone's IMEI has been modified. Both scenarios are serious red flags. Don't purchase this device.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — IMEI modification is a criminal offence under Pakistan's Electronic Transactions Ordinance 2002. Any phone with a modified, erased, or cloned IMEI is direct evidence of criminal activity.
No — the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is the network identifier used by mobile operators to track devices on their networks. The serial number is the manufacturer's own device identifier used for warranty and service. Both are unique to a specific device but serve different purposes.