As you know that IMEI, or International Mobile
Equipment Identity, is a unique number issued to every mobile device in use
today but you might not be aware that phones with dual SIM options have two
IMEIs. These unique numbers of dual SIM phones are set at the time of its
manufacturing.
As of now, the top
telecom regulator of the country Pakistan Telecommunication
Authority (PTA) has said that all subscribers with dual SIM mobile devices will
have to register both IMEI numbers separately before August 31, as reported
by Dawn News.
PTA has observed such
instances where mobile broadband subscribers who own handsets with dual SIMs
have registered one IMEI number against the slot they use. Most users do not
utilize the second slot and have either not registered the IMEI number against
it or have forgotten to do so. According to a statement by PTA,
“Mobile device users with one IMEI registered, and the
second IMEI not registered are advised to register all IMEIs. After August 31,
the unregistered IMEI in a dual SIM mobile handset will be blocked.”
Moreover, PTA has detailed that in order to register such
devices, users can send an email at typeapproval@pta.gov.pk with
details such as a screenshot of the device showing all programmed IMEI, the
screenshot of device box showing IMEI(s), copy of CNIC, and contact details of
applicants.
So now, you must be thinking about how you can check the
validity of your second SIM slot’s IMEI.
How to
Check IMEI Validity for the second slot?
First dial *#06# from your dial pad.
You will get a pop-up that displays all the IMEI numbers of
the phone (depending on whether you have a single SIM or dual SIM phone).
The validity of all the IMEI numbers can be either checked
by sending the IMEI number to 8484 in a text message.
Or you can visit the PTA
website to check it.
Android users can also download the DIRBS Android mobile app
to know this status.
It is worth mentioning here that PTA is committed to
evaluating all such requests, and validated cases will be registered
accordingly. However, after August 30 such SIM slots would not be registered or
entertained.
