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Islamabad, June 24, 2025: Despite a month passing since the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced a countrywide crackdown on the sale and use of JV iPhones, also known as SIM-locked or network-locked iPhones, these devices continue to be openly sold in major cities, raising questions about the effectiveness of enforcement.
PTA had declared the sale, purchase, and use of JV iPhones illegal, warning that anyone found involved would face arrest and legal action. However, the phones are still being sold at large scale in popular mobile markets of Lahore, Sialkot, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala.
Not only are shopkeepers offering these devices over the counter, but listings for JV iPhones have also resurfaced on online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, OLX, Instagram pages, and WhatsApp groups, many of which openly label the phones as “JV”.
Last month, PTA launched raids across multiple cities and seized numerous smartphones with cloned IMEI numbers or illegal CPID patches. Initially, this prompted many retailers, particularly in Lahore’s Hafeez Centre and Rawalpindi’s Singapore Plaza, to hide JV devices out of fear of action. However, within weeks, the phones returned to shelves in large numbers, raising questions over the follow-through of the crackdown.
In its earlier public advisory, PTA outlined serious concerns, stating that these unauthorised devices violate telecom regulations, pose national security threats, disrupt mobile networks, and endanger user privacy. The authority also noted that such phones are often used in cyber and financial frauds.
What are JV iPhones and why are they controversial?
JV iPhones are mostly imported into Pakistan through unofficial and often illegal channels. These phones are typically sold via monthly instalment plans abroad, such as in the US through carriers like AT&T, and then sent to Pakistan. If the original buyer stops payments or reports the device stolen, the phone is blacklisted, making it unusable with all mobile networks. However, these iPhones still function on WiFi and support apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook.
Because they are not factory unlocked and cannot be officially PTA-approved unless dues are cleared, JV iPhones sell for far less than PTA-approved or factory unlocked models. For instance, a brand-new PTA-approved iPhone 16 Pro Max (256 GB) currently retails for around Rs470,000, while the same non-PTA version may cost up to Rs350,000. JV versions, however, are being sold for as low as Rs235,000.
Resistance from retailers
Despite clear PTA warnings, market activity shows little signs of slowing. In fact, many shopkeepers argue that banning JV iPhones makes “little sense” since they are already SIM-locked and cannot be used for calls or mobile data, effectively functioning like iPods.
Several traders have even staged protests, demanding that the government either ban the phones at the point of entry or allow open sales in the local market.
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A mobile shop owner in Lahore, speaking to Bloom Pakistan on condition of anonymity, said, “If these phones are banned, why are they allowed to enter Pakistan in the first place? Why are they not stopped at airports? Either don’t let them in or let us sell them freely. Don’t punish the poor while the system itself is flawed.”
He added that thousands of JV iPhones were sold in June alone across Hafeez Centre, Hall Road, Singapore Plaza, and Amer Centre in Gujranwala, as customers unable to afford expensive PTA-approved models opt for these lower-cost alternatives.
PTA’s warning falls flat
PTA had urged the public to avoid legal issues by using only PTA-approved mobile devices, stating: “The use, sale, or purchase of cloned, duplicate, or JV mobile devices is a punishable offence under Pakistani law. Ensure your device is PTA-approved and all applicable FBR taxes and duties have been paid.”
Despite this, JV iPhones continue to flood markets across the country, underscoring gaps in regulation and enforcement, and suggesting a need for more robust measures, from customs controls to policy-level reforms, to tackle the issue at its root.
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