How DIRBS eradicated Mobile Phone smuggling in Pakistan?

The introduction of the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) has eradicated the smuggling of mobile phones in Pakistan.

This was shared by Tariq Huda, Member Customs while talking to a private channel. He said that in 2016 out of 60 million phones hitting Pakistani markets only 25 million phones were legally imported while the remaining 35 million mobile phones were smuggled.

However, after the introduction of the DIRBS smuggling has been eradicated, as those mobile phones which are not available in the Customs data will not be activated, informed Huda.

The DIRBS was introduced in 2018, the system automatically identifies sub-standard, fake, and illegally imported mobile phones, register and block non-compliant devices on mobile phone networks. This unique system aids in curbing illegal imports, facilitate legitimate device importers, and mobile device users, and improve the overall security situation.

The customs official further informed that the introduction of DIRBS has resulted in a massive boost to revenue from merely Rs.14 billion in 2016 to Rs.48 billion in 2020 depicting a growth of 234 percent.

Moreover, due to the eradication of mobile phone smuggling, 18 new mobile manufacturing industries have been set up, and Pakistan now produces over 11 million mobile phones, he added.