Buying a used mobile: how to check PTA approval and IMEI

In Pakistan a phone must be registered with the PTA to work on local SIM cards. A "non-PTA" or blocked phone can stop working at any time. Here is how to check a used phone in a few minutes.

1. Find the IMEI number

Dial *#06# on the phone. It shows the IMEI (and two numbers on dual-SIM phones). The same numbers should be printed on the box and in the phone's settings. If they do not match, walk away.

2. Check PTA status

Send the IMEI number by SMS to 8484, or check it on the PTA DIRBS website. You want the answer "compliant" (approved). "Non-compliant" means the phone will not work on Pakistani SIMs unless the PTA tax is paid — and that tax can be very high for expensive phones.

3. Make sure it is not stolen or locked

• Ask for the box and the purchase bill with the same IMEI.
• Make sure the seller has signed out of iCloud (iPhone) or Google account (Android). Go to Settings yourself and check. A phone still locked to someone else's account is useless to you.
• Be careful with a very low price and no box — stolen phones are often sold this way.

4. Check the condition

• Battery: on iPhone, see Settings → Battery → Battery Health (above 80% is good). On Android, check that it does not get hot or drain quickly.
• Screen: open a white page and look for spots, lines or yellow patches. Touch every part of the screen.
• Cameras, speakers, microphone: make a short call and record a video.
• Charging port, buttons, fingerprint and face unlock — test them all.
• Signs of repair: different screen colour, loose frame or missing screws can mean it was opened.

5. Pay safely

Meet in a public place, insert your own SIM to check the network, and pay only when you are happy. Keep the seller's CNIC copy and a simple written receipt for expensive phones.

On AdLagao, look for the "PTA approved" detail in mobile ads, and always ask the seller for the IMEI before you meet.