Has Pakistan’s Government eliminated PTA taxes on Mobile Phones.The Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS), implemented by the Pakistani government, allows non-compliant devices to be blocked from mobile phone networks. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has stressed that there has been no official decision to reduce taxes on imported mobile phones in Pakistan, despite claims to the contrary on social media.
In a statement, the PTA clarified that only overseas Pakistanis will be exempt from these taxes, and non-PTA mobile users can register temporarily by restarting their devices with an inserted SIM card. It is important to understand that this temporary step does not mean a wholesale abolition of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) taxes on registering instruments. The PTA emphasized the distinction between its role in verifying technical standards for device registration through DIRBS and FBR’s responsibility for levying and collecting taxes.Additionally, the PTA appealed to the public to rely on official sources for updates and avoid sharing unverified information.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has addressed online reports claiming that the tax levied on imported mobile phones in Pakistan will be abolished. The PTA clarified that no formal decision has been taken on the matter. Returning Pakistanis may be exempted from these taxes, but non-PTA mobile users can temporarily register their devices by restarting them with an inserted SIM card. However, it is important to note that this provision is temporary and does not mean a comprehensive abolition of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) taxes on handset registration.
Reports falsely claim that returning Pakistanis will not be subject to these taxes and that non-PTA mobile users can get approval for their devices by simply inserting a SIM card and turning them on and off.
In July 2023, the Prime Minister extended a provision allowing overseas Pakistanis to register their phones tax-free through the temporary registration system for 120 days during each visit to Pakistan. The PTA emphasizes that this temporary setup is the only current solution, and that FBR’s taxes on registration of mobile phones have not been widely abolished.
The PTA also clarified its role by stating that it verifies the technical standards of mobile devices for registration through Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) after payment of FBR tax. The responsibility for enforcement and collection of these taxes rests solely with the FBR.
