Is it safe to buy a phone that shows 'Non-compliant'?

It can still be a genuine phone, but you will need to register and pay the PTA tax yourself before its grace period ends, so factor that cost into the price you offer.

What does 'Blocked' mean and should I ever buy it?

Blocked means the IMEI has been blacklisted, usually because it was reported stolen, smuggled, or its grace period expired unpaid for good. Do not buy a Blocked phone under any circumstances.

How do I know if an IMEI has been tampered with?

If the model name in the official DIRBS/SMS response does not match the phone you are holding, or the IMEI on-screen does not match the one on the box or SIM tray, treat it as tampered and walk away.

Guide

Buying a Used Phone in Pakistan? Check PTA Status Before You Pay

Never trust a seller's screenshot. A 5-step live check protects you from patched IMEIs, blocked phones and inherited tax bills.

4 min read

Reviewed by Salman Ahmed·Updated 27 August 2026

Never rely on a screenshot the seller sends you

Status screenshots are trivial to fake or reuse from a different phone. Always run the check yourself, live, with the phone in your hand, before you hand over any payment.

Step 1: get every IMEI from the physical device

Dial *#06# on the phone itself, do not rely on the box unless you also confirm it matches the phone. Dual-SIM or eSIM phones can show more than one IMEI, note all of them.

Step 2: check the status live

Send each IMEI as an SMS to 8484, or check it on dirbs.pta.gov.pk, while you are with the seller. Compliant/PTA approved means it is safe to use permanently; Non-compliant means the tax is unpaid; Blocked means the device is blacklisted, stolen or smuggled, walk away immediately.

Step 3: confirm the model name actually matches

Compare the model name in the DIRBS/SMS response to the phone you are physically holding. If the response shows a completely different, usually much cheaper, model, the seller's phone likely has a manipulated or 'donor' IMEI written onto it, a serious red flag, not a genuine device.

Step 4: match the printed IMEI to the box and SIM tray

The IMEI on the phone's screen should match the number printed on the original box and, on many models, etched on the SIM tray. A mismatch suggests tampering or replaced internal parts.

Step 5: understand what you inherit if it is Non-compliant

If the phone is still Non-compliant, you as the buyer will need to register and pay the PTA tax yourself to keep using it, the unpaid tax does not disappear with a change of owner. Price that into your offer, or ask the seller to register it before you pay.