KARACHI, Dec 30: As the 10-day ban on the sale of used mobile phone sets is being lifted on the first day of the next year, the electronic market association , in collaboration with police, has introduced a web-based computer software to check the sale of stolen sets.

In view of unbridled incidents of mobile phone snatching and stealing, the association, through its software, plans registration of every mobile phone set and hopes for an effective check on the illegal trading to a great extent, according to the office-bearers of the association and police.

A private company, dealing in branded cell phone sets, had prepared the web-based software which was launched on experimental basis. "The results are excellent and people can have access to the software from their personal computers through the Internet," said a representative of the company.

He said that by filling up a form available on the website, anyone could seek registration of his cell phone set. One may enter the international manufacturer equipment identification (IMEI) number which can be retrieved from the GSM mobile set by pressing *#06#.

In case the set is snatched, lost or stolen, a complaint could be lodged immediately on the website or by dialling phone number 2743390 or 2743392. Police Madadgar 15 could also be approached for help.

City police chief Tariq Jamil, appreciating the system, said that the launching of the software would help control the incidents of mobile phone snatching and theft.

He said that the ban on the trading of used mobile phone was imposed as mobile theft had become rampant and sale/purchase of stolen sets had become a roaring business in recent months.

He said that in order to achieve desired results, shopkeepers had been convinced by their respective association to benefit from the web-based software and make sure that the phone sets they intended to buy or sell were not illegally acquired.

The software, he added, was identical to that developed for keeping the database of vehicles, he added. Mr Jamil said that every shopkeeper had been advised to fill up a form relating to the sale and purchase of mobile sets. The move, he said, would help maintain a record of the trading in used mobile phone sets.