Importing a smartphone from abroad or receiving a mobile gift from family overseas requires completing formal device registration under the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). Unregistered mobile devices are automatically barred from connecting to local cellular networks after a mandatory 60-day testing window. Fortunately, the entire tax generation and payment process has been streamlined online for 2026.
Step 1: Retrieve your phone's IMEI number. Dial *#06# on your device keypad. If your smartphone features dual SIM slots or an eSIM profile, note down both IMEI-1 and IMEI-2 numbers carefully.
Step 2: Generate the official Payment Slip Identifier (PSID). You can dial *8484# from any active Pakistani mobile number and select 'Register Mobile Device', or visit the web portal at dirbs.pta.gov.pk. Select whether you are registering on your CNIC (local citizen) or Foreign Passport (overseas visitor). Input your IMEI numbers. The system will cross-reference your tax filing status with the FBR database and generate a unique 17-digit PSID alongside the exact payable tax amount.
Step 3: Execute the payment. Open your mobile banking application (such as HBL, Meezan, Bank Alfalah), Easypaisa, or JazzCash. Navigate to 'Bill Payments' or 'Government Taxes', select 'FBR / PTA Mobile Tax', enter your 17-digit PSID number, and confirm the transaction.
Once payment is processed, PTA receives automated confirmation from 1Link. Your device’s IMEI will be approved in the national DIRBS database, and full cellular services will resume automatically within a few hours.