Starting July 1, 2026, individuals importing mobile phones into Pakistan will have the option to pay the applicable import taxes in instalments under the Finance Act 2026.
The new measure is designed to ease the financial burden on consumers by allowing them to spread tax payments over a specified period instead of paying the full amount upfront.
The instalment facility will apply to taxes collected through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), which is used to register imported mobile devices for legal use on local networks.
However, all outstanding instalments must be cleared before the end of the same financial year in which the phone is imported to remain compliant with the regulations.
The amendment to the Sales Tax Act, 1990 is intended to make the tax payment process more convenient while ensuring continued compliance with Pakistan’s mobile device registration framework.
Authorities believe the move will encourage greater registration of imported smartphones, simplify tax payments for consumers, and support a more transparent and efficient system for regulating mobile devices in the country.
