Pakistan blocked nearly 100 million mobile phones during the financial year 2024–25 as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal, fake, and cloned devices, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) latest annual report. The authority blocked thousands of lost and stolen phones, millions of replica handsets, and a large number of devices with cloned IMEI numbers through its Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), which prevents unauthorized phones from accessing local networks. PTA said the initiative has improved consumer safety, reduced the circulation of counterfeit devices, increased transparency in the mobile market, and boosted government revenue by promoting legal imports. The report also highlighted strong growth in local mobile manufacturing, revealing that over 95 percent of mobile phones used in Pakistan are now locally made or assembled, supporting job creation, economic stability, and reduced reliance on imports.