The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance reviewed the tax structure on imported mobile phones after a petition from the FPCCI.
Chairman Federal Board Revenue (FBR) Rashid Mahmood Langrial briefed the committee, stating that 95 percent of mobile phones used in Pakistan are manufactured locally and that taxes apply only to imported devices.
He noted that new iPhone models face taxes of up to Rs. 150,000 and questioned why anyone able to purchase such devices should avoid paying these charges. He stressed that the issue affects only about 5 percent of consumers.
Langrial said a detailed report on imported phone taxation will be submitted to parliament by March and shared with the standing committee. Following his briefing, the committee concluded its discussion on the matter.
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Khuda hidayat de inhen ya utha le
Kese mile ga iphone 17 pro max koi fraud to nahi hai
The problem is not that iphone tax is 150000 but all mobile phones are charged exorbitant tax. No body knows where the tax collected from these mobile phones go to . When asked they say we don’t know , it’s fbr job to say what tax is used for. Personally I think in last three years billions of rupees perhaps close to 200 billion dollars have been collected in mobile taxes. What services we get is unknown . Oh only a software is present where you can check if imei are pta compliant or not nothing that special. 7 Saal Mai two times Mera mobile chori hogaya hai. Complain bhi chai Pani par detay hain.
I worked in Saudi Arabia and bought a Samsung S8+ there and used it for almost 4 years before permnently retuened to beloved Pakistan. Now I am also gettig messages to pay the taxes by Januarty 2026 to avoid disruption of services. The current market value of the mobile would be around 15K. I dont know what I should do to waive this tax which I belive should not apply to me as I bought it as iversease pakistan for my sole usage outside Paakistan but ironically i have to return back.
Dear use it without SIM once closed…or there are softwares / gadgets in the market for the removal of pta ban…sonot worry
Tax r great injustice to the people of Pakistan it’s unbelievable high rates on phones it should be abolish immediately no arguments
This does not make any sense. Is the FBR Chairman dumb? Does he not know how middle class shops? If they are somehow able to save 400,000 for their dream iPhone, it does not mean that they’re able to save 150,000 more as well. It would be easier for them to just get one and use it non-PTA and keep a separate, cheap PTA approved phone that’s around 40,000. So FBR is getting no tax for all the people who are using it non-PTA, and that’s the bigger chunk of the market. Now imagine if they reduced it from 150k to let’s say, 40k, almost everyone would drop their extra phones and pay the PTA tax. FBR will get a lot of tax revenue. Also, so many people who are discouraged from buying non-PTA phones because of high PTA taxes will be getting them as well. Right now they’re staying at 150k and getting no tax at all. What a bunch of greedy and brainless people. They have no idea that middle class should be their main target in this sector.
As per Report the chairman lied to the committee
tax on such devices is upto 220k even more in Pak rupees and users aren’t 5% infact mostly user gets patched, locked devices at a higher price which is against the social normas, imported IT devices isn’t a luxury and PTA devices tax isn’t even admissible or traceable, however just because we live in Pakistan so there will be no proper solution, how ridiculous and useless argument is this that the institution will provide details after 3-4 months , no other country on earth have such practices —- Sorrowfully its a shame. and they aren’t even feeling like a human being
I bought Nokia 510 small phone PTA approved but his IMEI are stolen pta blocked it I don’t know the mechanism
Rip off, they think Iphone user are filthy rich and elite given it’s retail price and taxes… FBR objectives should be less taxes to allow consumers affordable prices and more buying……
FBR objective is to squeeze public like a lemon is squeezed for lemon juice to feed the ludicrously large and useless government employees and their perks and privileges without accountability for misuse of taxpayer money.
The issue is not paying Rs150,000/- PTA tax on phone the issue is in cities like Karachi , phone snatching is common , everyday 100s of phone are snatched and this crime is increasing day by day, it mean a person pay 150,000 a month later phone is snatched so he have to again pay PTA. This tax should CNIC based , once a person pay then this tax should be transferable to his new phone
“He noted that new iPhone models face taxes of up to Rs. 150,000 and questioned why anyone able to purchase such devices should avoid paying these charges.”
Maybe because:
1 – Anyone affording iPhone will have income above the minimum income tax threshold so he/she will be a taxpayer.
2 – The funds being used by taxpayer (see above) for buying this phone have already been taxed once at up to 45% income tax depending on income slabs.
3 – By levying additional tax, the specific funds being used for this purchase are being taxed at above 60-65% considering income tax plus duties. Other taxes/levies/FED/salestax are in addition to this.
4 – What additional privileges is the government giving this specific taxpayer compared to non-taxpayer/tax-evador against charging 70-75% taxes on this specific income being used for the purchase?
I hope Langrial has his answer now.