Tag: pta charges

  • PTA introduces 120-day tax-free mobile registration for overseas Pakistanis

    PTA introduces 120-day tax-free mobile registration for overseas Pakistanis

    Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the Online Temporary Mobile Phone Registration System on Tuesday, aimed at facilitating overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals during their visits to the country.

    Under this system, individuals will be able to register and utilise their personal mobile phones for a duration of up to 120 days from the date of their arrival, exempt from any duties and taxes. This facility is available to overseas Pakistanis, including students and employees, as well as foreign nationals visiting Pakistan for tourism or business purposes.

    During the inaugural ceremony in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz acknowledged the significant progress made by Pakistani youth in the field of information technology and emphasised the need to seize the abundant opportunities in this sector. He further stated that the current government has allocated ample funds in the budget to support various youth-oriented programmes.

     To attract foreign investment and revive the economy, a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has been established, with the IT Ministry playing a pivotal role in achieving the set objectives.

    Additionally, the PM highlighted the importance of promoting IT parks in the country to boost IT exports. He mentioned the distribution of free laptops among deserving students based on merit and assured that a non-financial package will be announced soon to further enhance facilitation for overseas Pakistanis.

    In December 2018, the government introduced the ‘Mobile Phone Tax Policy,’ allowing overseas Pakistanis to bring one phone without paying customs duty, subject to registration upon arrival at the airport. Failure to register resulted in the phone being non-operational. Initially, the registered phone could be used with one SIM for 60 days, after which it required payment of due taxes to regularise its usage.

    In 2022, authorities upgraded and introduced new features in the Identification Registration and Blocking System, enabling overseas Pakistanis to use their imported mobile phones for a period of 120 days.

    The system facilitated data exchange among the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). It was also integrated with the FIA’s record of passengers’ entry and exit.

  • Here’s how to use a SIM in a non-PTA approved phone

    Here’s how to use a SIM in a non-PTA approved phone

    Owing to import limitations and costly PTA approval fees, consumers are forced to choose non-PTA mobile phones as smartphone prices have increased dramatically in Pakistan.

    PTA approval for phones was not an idea back then, and Pakistanis could purchase any phone they wanted without any hassles. But now, it’s all different.

    A phone may use any SIM card for two months after it is imported into Pakistan, after which the PTA will disable the device. Due to store owners’ lack of concern for investing additional funds for PTA clearance and their decision to leave it up to customers whether they wish to pay the high cost of PTA approval for using a SIM, Pakistani mobile marketplaces are currently overrun with non-PTA phones.

    People use a different phone to keep their sim active because the sim on these phones stops working after the two-month period. Few individuals are aware that non-PTA phones still support SIM cards.

    Users can purchase a SIM card of a mobile network called SCOM and activate their number.

    For those who don’t know, SCO introduced the first GSM mobile services under the name SCOM in Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan in 2004.

    Read more: Latest government jobs in Pakistan

    In over 450 major cities, towns, and villages in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, SCOM offers the area’s largest network coverage with an equal footprint in rural and urban terrain, but it may also be utilised across the entire nation.

    However, there is one disadvantage for residents of other parts of Punjab because SCOM SIM is not offered everywhere. There are many people selling SCOM connections online, so you can search OLX or visit SCOM’s official website to order a sim online.

    People purchase non-PTA phones, such as iPhones and other flagship models from Samsung, One Plus, Sony, Xiaomi, and other manufacturers, since PTA-approved phones are now quite expensive. People are forced to carry an additional phone to keep their sim active because the sim on these unapproved phones stops working after the two-month period.

    It is important to keep in mind that although these phones may appear to be less expensive at the time of purchase, adding the PTA approval charge makes them way more expensive.

  • iPhone 13 buyers will now pay Rs132,000 for PTA approval

    iPhone 13 buyers will now pay Rs132,000 for PTA approval

    The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has made it nearly impossible for Apple fans to get iPhones in the country by significantly raising the tax on the overall iPhone 13 series.

    It is worth noting that the PTA approval costs for the iPhone 13 have been raised at a time when the iPhone 14 is likely to be released at the beginning of next month. However, it is unclear what prices the PTA will set for the approval of newer iPhones.

    The following are the latest PTA approval rates for the iPhone 13 lineup:

    Apple iPhone 13 Mini

    Tax Payable:

    Rs108,000 for passport holders

    Rs132,000 for CNIC holders

    Apple iPhone 13

    Tax Payable: 

    Rs108,000 for passport holders

    Rs132,000 for CNIC holders

    Apple iPhone 13 Pro

    Tax Payable: 

    Rs108,000 for passport holders

    Rs132,000 for CNIC holders.

    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

    Tax Payable: 

    Rs108,000 for passport holders

    Rs132,000 for CNIC holders

    Read more: 12 important things you need to know before buying a used iPhone

    These taxes must be paid within 30 days after importation if the phone is registered on a passport, and within 60 days if it is registered on the national identity card.

  • PTA temporarily unblocks non-compliant smartphones

    PTA temporarily unblocks non-compliant smartphones

    A number of Pakistani users have regained cellular connectivity on smartphones that are not PTA compliant. This led many customers and sellers to believe that the PTA had unblocked all non-PTA-approved phones.

    Unfortunately, all of the reports claiming that the PTA has unblocked non-tax compliant phones are false as the majority of imported phones with unpaid taxes, are still blocked by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and cannot work with any cellular networks in the country.

    They can, however, continue to use Wi-Fi connections like before. Some people with unapproved phones had their phones unblocked at random in recent weeks, allowing them to reconnect to cellular networks.

    The telecommunications authority has made clear that it has unblocked an undefined number of non-approved phones solely to motivate people to pay taxes and have their phones properly unblocked.

    According to PTA spokesperson Khurram Ali Mehran, this was just a persuasive drill to get people to authenticate their phones and pay taxes, no matter how expensive they are.

    He stated that the PTA chose to unblock the phones at random and that they will all be blocked again within two months.