The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in strict coordination with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), has updated the official Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) tax matrix for 2026. Designed to curb grey-market smuggling while incentivizing tax filing, the structured tax brackets offer substantial tariff relief to verified tax filers on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL).
Under the revised tax schedule, customs duties and regulatory taxes are benchmarked against the certified C&F import value of mobile devices. For ultra-premium handsets such as the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, active filers pay significantly lower duty levies compared to non-filers, representing savings of upwards of Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 55,000 per registered handset.
Citizens can easily register imported smartphones by dialing *8484# from any active Pakistani SIM or visiting the official web portal (dirbs.pta.gov.pk). Upon inputting the 15-digit IMEI number, the system automatically verifies the user's CNIC status against FBR records and generates a 17-digit Payment Slip Identifier (PSID). Payment can be executed seamlessly within minutes through all commercial online banking apps, ATM networks, or 1Link payment kiosks.
For overseas Pakistanis and international foreign visitors, the PTA’s temporary registration portal allows eligible travelers to utilize their personal mobile handsets on Pakistani cellular networks for up to 120 days tax-free during each visit.