Auction of confiscated phones awaits PTA nod

LAHORE: The auction of tens of thousands of confiscated mobile phones continues to face delay, causing a major revenue loss to the national exchequer, as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has yet to whitelist them despite repeated requests from the Customs Department.

According to sources, Customs officials at major airports, including Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad have written multiple times to the PTA, seeking the mandatory whitelisting of more than 10,000 mobile phones. These handsets were seized at airports over the past several months and cannot be auctioned or activated until cleared by PTA’s Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). Customs authorities say the lack of response from PTA has stalled planned auctions, blocking the inflow of potentially millions of rupees into the government treasury.

Speaking to The News, Collector Customs (Airports) Tayyabah Kiyani confirmed the delay and emphasised its consequences. “We have formally requested PTA to whitelist the mobile phones so that they can be auctioned and the revenue deposited in the national treasury,” she said. She warned that prolonged delays would reduce the value of the devices. “Newer models enter the market, and buyers lose interest in older ones. That defeats the entire purpose of auctioning,” she added.

Ms Kiyani further said the department has submitted multiple written requests to the PTA. “We have manually sent requests to PTA for the whitelisting of these phones. However, for a smoother and more efficient process, the PTA should consider integrating its system with Customs,” she said. “If such an integration is in place, all confiscated mobile phones across the country could be whitelisted with a single click, significantly reducing delays and enhancing government revenue.”

Customs sources revealed that despite submitting lists of confiscated phones for whitelisting, there has been little progress. “Even premium smartphones like the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy series are lying idle, depreciating in value day by day,” said an official on condition of anonymity. “The impasse underscores the need for better inter-agency coordination to avoid further losses to the national kitty.”

When contacted, an official of the PTA, however, stated that the Authority had not received any formal request from the Customs Department regarding the listing of mobile phones.