The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that there is no official decision to remove the tax on imported mobile phones in Pakistan, contrary to online reports suggesting otherwise.
In a recent statement, the PTA said that Pakistanis will be exempted from this tax, while non-PTA mobile users can temporarily register their devices by simply reactivating them with a SIM card.
However, this does not mean a further extension of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) tax on temporary devices and telephone registration.
The PTA has demonstrated its role in verifying the technical standards of mobile devices for registration through the Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) after paying the FBR tax. He pointed out that the responsibility of implementing and collecting these taxes lies with the FBR and not the PTA.
To prevent the spread of incorrect information, PTA advises citizens to rely on official sources for updates and not to spread unverified information. The public is advised to consult FBR directly for accurate updates on mobile device tax.
Last year, the government introduced a facility to allow overseas Pakistanis to pay taxes on their phones through a temporary registration system for 120 days during each visit. This initiative is aimed at facilitating the return of work from abroad.
