Government Considering Removal of Mobile Phone Tax, Says Federal Minister

Islamabad (Khabar Desk) — Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that a proposal to abolish taxes on mobile phones is currently under consideration.
Speaking during a Senate session, the minister stated that although the government has had to take several difficult measures due to prevailing circumstances, authorities are now reviewing the possibility of ending PTA taxes on mobile phones.
He explained that mobile phones brought into Pakistan are automatically blocked after a few weeks if they are not properly registered on the local network. He added that the government is trying to provide more facilities and convenience to overseas Pakistanis.
The minister’s remarks come after the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) last month significantly increased the import valuation of old and used mobile phones.
According to reports, the FBR issued a new valuation ruling and immediately withdrew the previous one, a move expected to make commercially imported used phones more expensive.
The FBR has introduced revised customs values for 62 different mobile phone models. The biggest increase has reportedly been seen in the valuation of Google Pixel devices.
Import values for Google Pixel 5, 6, and 6A models have increased by 161 to 194 percent, which is expected to result in significantly higher import costs and PTA taxes. Analysts say the additional financial burden will ultimately be passed on to consumers.