Pakistan has implemented various taxes and duties on the import and registration of mobile phones, leading to speculation about the potential removal of these PTA taxes. In response, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) provided an update regarding the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) taxes on mobile phones.
The PTA clarified that, contrary to online reports, the government has not made an official decision to remove taxes on imported mobile phones in Pakistan. The telecom authority also mentioned that returning Pakistanis will be exempt from these taxes and that non-PTA mobile users can register their devices by simply restarting them with a SIM card inserted.
Last year, the Pakistani government introduced a facility allowing overseas Pakistanis to register their handsets tax-free for 120 days per visit through the Temporary Registration System.
The PTA emphasized that this temporary facility is the only current measure in place, and no wider removal of FBR taxes on handset registration has been implemented. It also clarified that its role is to verify the technical standards of mobile devices for registration through DIRBS after FBR taxes are paid.
The responsibility for implementing and collecting these taxes rests with the tax collection authority. Any updates or changes regarding mobile device taxes should be confirmed directly with the FBR. People are advised to rely on information from official channels and to avoid sharing unverified details.
