While most inbound travelers who bring luxurious items attempt to evade the taxes by illicit means, a fraction of those who abide by the law face a wide range of issues.
From exorbitant taxes and duties imposed by the government to the officials demanding bribes to clear those items by circumventing the law, there are a number of challenges that some travelers have to face after stepping back into their country.
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In one such incident, a citizen had bought a Wi-Fi device from UAE for AED 59 (Rs. 2,600) before returning to Pakistan.
Upon arrival, the citizen applied for registering the device with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and was asked to pay Rs. 36,000 in taxes.
Shockingly, the citizen was also allegedly approached by Customs officials who demanded half the amount of taxes as a bribe in order to clear the device without paying the “lawful” tax amount.
This is just one story that has come to light. There are numerous similar untold stories.
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Therefore, it is hoped that the government would revise tax policies so that officials do not exploit ordinary citizens.
It is also requested to use PTA’s DIRBS platform for registering their imported devices and avoiding manipulation at the hands of corrupt officials. However, this only applies to phones and other imported items still have to go through the customs department.
About DIRBS
In line with section 9.6 of the Telecom Policy 2015, PTA developed the DIRBS to:
- Eliminate counterfeit, non-standard, and duplicate (IMEI) devices from the networks;
- Support FBR in curbing smuggled mobile devices;
- Address security issues due to usage of non-standard & duplicate IMEI handset.
The Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System, known as DIRBS, is a framework initially launched by the PTA in May 2018 to curb the smuggling of illegal devices in the country and ensure that all the devices being used were legally registered and verified by the authority.
Citizens can register with DIRBS via SMS, Android application, and DIRBS online portal.
Misleading headline, thanks for wasting my time.
the reporting standard of PP has become too low to waste time…
I unsubscribed long time back and visit the website once a month only to be disappointed even more than before.
Quality of articles are decreasing day by day … This is one of the worst article I read on propakisrani …
lol I think its time to stop reading propakistani’s, shame on you writer.
Pta needs to update price list for the devices and proof should be allowed to be provided
You gave an example of a router in the article. Why are you mentioning DIRBS? Isn’t it for mobile devices only? Secondly, how can one “avoid paying extremely high taxes”? That’s not mentioned anywhere in the article, you are just giving suggestion to govt. Totally misleading.
DIRBS is for any thing that uses a sim. There are 3G/4G routers in the market nowadays and that’s what the writer meant. I agree with your comments. Totally misleading headline with crappy article.
The article is under par. You can do better Haroon Hayder.
ALL non imei based including wifi devices are exempted from dirbs registration, where DIRBS registration couldn’t been complete until proper and valid IMEIs won’t be enter, then how how the Rs 36000 duty has beeen generated?
Pls do proper homework before prepare any fake news.
Great.. Aysa masail ko Show karna bahut achaa kam haa
Absolute waste of time with misleading headline
True reflektions PP. Readers please use FB.
F**k the writer
PTA/FBR agar insaan k bacho waale taxes laga dain smartphones pe to sab 2 number kaam seedhe hojae. Laikin jaahil bhare hue hain PTA and FBR mai