Pakistan PTA releases the latest mobile equipment import policy

On September 26, 2021, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) issued "technical standards and regulations for type approval in 2021". The key points of the new PTA mobile equipment import policy are as follows:

1. Each person can only import five mobile devices for personal use every year.

2. All type approval holders and personnel importing PTA type approval terminal equipment and mobile equipment for sales and marketing in Pakistan must ensure that customer service or after-sales mechanism is established to facilitate their customers. In addition, the COC of imported parts for after-sales supply shall also be obtained through PTA.

3. If the applicant is a foreign entity, they must provide the following type approval process documents issued in their country:

• company registration

• board authorization for applying for PTA type approval

• shareholder details of the equipment manufacturer's board of directors

4. All terminal equipment with wireless function must operate without interference within the spectrum allowed by PTA / fab

5. The IMEI of the equipment will only include the type assignment code (TAC) issued by GSMA, excluding the type assignment code blacklisted by the authorities

6. PTA will not allow the release of COC to mobile devices containing copy / clone / stolen / counterfeit information

7. For equipment operating in VHF / HF / UHF frequency band, the type approval holder will ensure that the equipment is sold to the PTA license holder and that the equipment is programmed only in the allocated frequency band according to the license conditions

8. For offshore functional equipment, authorization from Pakistan Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) and license issued by PTA are required