Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed Customs authorities to detain all mobile devices imported through Postal/Courier services in Pakistan and make it mandatory to register mobile devices carried in the accompanied luggage of international passengers at airports.
The FBR has also issued a new procedure for holder/proprietor of un-registered mobile devices to voluntarily approach the nearest Collectorate of Customs and file declaration for regularization of such devices on payment of duty/taxes and registration with Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA).
However, the FBR’s customs general order (CGO) 6 of 2018 issued has not specified any slabs of duties and taxes for the legalization of unregistered mobile phones and mobile devices coming through Postal/Courier and accompanied baggage.
According to the customs general order (CGO) 6 of 2018 issued by the FBR, Federal Cabinet has approved the launching/operationalization of Devices Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) with effect from 1st December, 2018. The DIRBS system was developed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ensure the sale, purchase and provision of mobile communication services to compliant mobile devices only.
Accordingly, all Type Approval holders, authorized distributors, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) will be required to ensure that non-compliant devices are not imported, sold, marketed or connected with the mobile operator networks. The compliant mobile devices are such devices with SIM or IMEI functionality which are type approved or have certification of compliance (CoC) to technical standards to IMEI devices issued by the PTA.
At present, mobile devices are brought into the country either through commercial imports or imported by individuals in accompanied baggage/courier or brought in illegally by smuggling. The commercial imports of mobile devices are regulated. The Custom’s WeBOC module is already operational and commercial consignments having PTA issued Type Approval or CoC are allowed clearance.
In order to regulate the import of mobile devices brought in by individuals for their personal use in accompanied baggage or through couriers or mobile devices brought in through informal channels and available in the local market, the FBR has formulated a new procedure.
In order to regulate the import of un-registered mobile devices imported by individuals through postal/courier service for personal use or gift, the following procedure is devised:-
In the case of non-issuance of CoC, the Customs authorities will take further action in accordance with the law with respect to the detained device.
In order to regulate the registration of mobile devices brought by international passengers, the PTA/Customs in coordination with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) shall make necessary arrangements at all international airports to aptly inform the incoming passengers about mandatory registration of mobile devices carried in the accompanied baggage. This may be done by means of appropriate display of the instructions for registration under DIRBS inside the international arrival halls/lounges or by means of leaflets available to the incoming passengers or distributed through tourist agencies, airlines etc.
The new procedure has been devised to regulate registration of mobile devices brought by the international passengers in their accompanied baggage:-
Mobile devices will accordingly be released in accordance with the above-mentioned procedure. In case of non-issuance of CoC, the mobile devices shall be detained for further processing under the law.
The above-stated procedure will apply mutatis mutandis for passengers arriving into Pakistan through Land Border Customs Stations.
In case the International Passenger, due to any reason, does not get the Mobile Device registered at the time of arrival at the airport, he/she may approach the nearest Customs Collectorate for registration of the same within fifteen days of the date of arrival in Pakistan. The passenger will be required to submit declaration form as prescribed, along with copies of travel documents i.e. passport duly stamped for entry into Pakistan. The declaration will accordingly be processed in the same manner as prescribed for the release of Mobile Device.
The Collectorates are requested to furnish the information on a monthly basis, regarding the import of Mobile Devices in Accompanied Baggage:
In the case of non-issuance of CoC, the Customs authorities will take further action in accordance with the law in respect of the detained device.
After the expiry of aforesaid timeline no option shall be available to regularize the illegal mobile devices and all such devices shall be liable for seizure/outright confiscation under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1969. In addition, all such devices shall be permanently blocked through DIRBS by PTA.
All the Collectorates are requested to furnish the information regarding regularization of mobile devices in the format detailed as under by December 31, 2018 positively, FBR added.