The government is considering easing Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) mobile phone taxes, commonly known as PTA approval charges, for overseas Pakistanis visiting the country, as complaints over high fees continue to grow among expatriates.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the Senate on Thursday that the proposal was under serious review as overseas Pakistanis had repeatedly raised the issue during overseas conventions held in Pakistan.
Responding to a supplementary question by Abid Sher Ali, the minister said many overseas Pakistanis face problems using phones brought from abroad because the devices remain active for only a limited period before being blocked unless PTA taxes are paid.
He said different tax rates apply to different mobile phone models, adding that the government was examining ways to reduce the burden on expatriates visiting Pakistan.
According to the minister, facilitating overseas Pakistanis remains a priority as the country looks to attract more foreign investment and improve economic activity.
Debate over mobile phone taxes continues
The latest discussion comes weeks after the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance asked the Federal Board of Revenue and the Tax Policy Unit to review duties and taxes on imported mobile phones ahead of the 2026-27 budget.
During the committee meeting chaired by Syed Naveed Qamar, lawmakers discussed proposals aimed at reducing taxes on expensive imported phones.
One proposal under consideration involved reducing sales tax on completely built unit (CBU) mobile phones priced above $500 from 25 percent to 18 percent. Phones valued below $500 already fall under the standard 18 percent sales tax bracket.
However, Head of the Tax Policy Unit Dr Najeeb reportedly told the committee there was little room to lower the existing 18 percent sales tax or the withholding income tax applied to imported phones.
Currently, imported mobile phones are also subject to minimum withholding tax under the government’s “pay as you earn” policy.
Overseas Pakistanis seek easier phone registration
The issue has become a frequent concern among overseas Pakistanis who visit the country for short periods and often avoid using foreign phones because of high registration costs.
Many expatriates have argued that temporary visitors should be offered easier or lower-cost registration options, particularly for personal-use devices brought into Pakistan for limited stays.
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