Senate Body Asks PTA For Urgent Briefing On DIRBS

Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications Tuesday asked Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to apprise about 'Device Identification Registration and Blocking System' (DIRBS) before expiry of deadline October, 20 set by latter to tap sale of non-verified handsets across the country.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2018 ) :Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications Tuesday asked Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to apprise about 'Device Identification Registration and Blocking System' (DIRBS) before expiry of deadline October, 20 set by latter to tap sale of non-verified handsets across the country.

chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid set October 18 for PTA to brief the Committee on the system and observed the new initiative would affect public at large.

The meeting was also attended by senators including Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, Rukhsana Zuberi, Sana Jamali, Taj Muhammad Afridi and senior officials from the PTA and Federal Investigation Agency.

Chairman/ Member Finance PTA, Muhammad Naveed informed that the mechanism had been evolved to ensure healthy growth of mobile devices' eco-system in Pakistan.

He said the authority had sensitized the consumers through Short Messaging Service regarding method for registration of their cellular devices. The user could verify his/her handset's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IEMI) number by sending a message on 8484, he added.

He said, "After sending a message on 8484, the user is supposed to get four options and in case of receiving IMEI compliant and valid, the user can use his/her handset. If the user status shows IMEI non-compliant which means the mobile user cannot use any Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) other than operational one. Mobile Phones with blocked IMEI could not be used anymore after deadline which is October 20.

" Commenting on PTA's initiative, Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh said the matter involved around 150 million mobile phone consumers who belonged to different segment of society and added majority of consumers could not even comprehend the circulated text messages which had been issued by PTA. Moreover, many of the consumers had not even received the message so far.

The PTA chairman said the system was fully prepared to operate and any hindrance at this stage would bear a heavy loss to national kitty.

The committee questioned whether the PTA took authorities concerned on-board? Naveed said the PTA finalized this policy after holding a consultation with all stakeholders.

The committee chairperson said the public was still confused about this IMEI issue and they needed to be well-informed about the matter through massive media campaigns. Most of the consumers had no idea about the system.

The committee also discussed the issue pertaining to rising trend of cyber crimes in the country and sought suggestions from departments concerned for controlling the online offenses.

The body was apprised that the role of PTA was to monitor, control and remove unethical, anti-religion and blasphemous content under law.

National Response Centre for Cyber Crime (NR3C) Director FIA , Captain Shoaib said the department took action after receiving a complaint and could not take up the matter on its own.

Senator Rubina Khalid directed NR3C and PTA to propose required amendments inPrevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PEC) in next meeting of the committee.