The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has raised concerns over the high taxes imposed on mobile phones, with PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman stating that the current 60 percent tax on smartphones is excessive and makes modern devices unnecessarily expensive for consumers.
Speaking during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology, the PTA chairman clarified that the authority does not impose taxes on mobile phones. He explained that PTA’s primary responsibility is to manage the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) and oversee the registration and whitelisting of mobile devices in Pakistan.
He added that PTA recommends tax reductions to the federal government every year but does not determine the duties and taxes applied to individual smartphone models. According to him, the authority is not responsible for setting tax rates on imported mobile devices.
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Committee Chairman Syed Amin Ul Haque also criticized the current taxation policy, stating that smartphones are no longer luxury products but essential tools for communication, education, digital banking, and business. He said excessive taxes increase prices and make smartphones less affordable for ordinary citizens.
During the meeting, the PTA chairman informed lawmakers that 37 companies have been licensed to manufacture or assemble mobile phones in Pakistan. He revealed that around 26 million mobile phones are assembled locally, while only 8 percent of handsets are imported.
Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja explained that premium devices, including Apple iPhones and Google Pixel smartphones, are among the imported models that attract the highest taxes due to existing import duties.
Committee members also suggested encouraging more international smartphone manufacturers to establish local assembly plants in Pakistan. They noted that if companies such as Samsung and Nokia can manufacture or assemble devices locally, other global brands should also be encouraged to invest in Pakistan.
The discussion highlights growing calls for a review of Pakistan’s smartphone taxation policy to improve affordability, promote digital inclusion, and support the continued growth of the country’s technology sector.
