ISLAMABAD — For smartphone buyers and overseas travellers arriving in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad, calculating the exact PTA mobile tax before purchasing an imported Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Ultra or Google Pixel remains essential in 2026.

Under the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) operated jointly by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), any imported SIM-enabled device connected to a local cellular network (Jazz, Zong, Ufone or Telenor) must have its IMEI registered within 60 days of first roaming/local activation. Failing to pay the applicable PTA mobile tax results in automatic cellular slot blocking on day 61.

Our Mobile and Pakistan consumer desks have compiled the updated 2026 USD-indexed FBR customs valuation slabs and estimated PKR duty ranges.

Advertisement

2026 Estimated PTA Mobile Tax Slabs (Passport vs. CNIC)

FBR Customs Valuation Tier (USD) Typical Smartphone Examples Tax on Passport (Est. PKR) Tax on CNIC (Est. PKR)
Up to $30 Basic keypad & entry feature phones ~Rs430 ~Rs550
$31 – $100 Budget 4G smartphones ~Rs3,200 ~Rs4,300
$101 – $200 Entry-mid Android imports ~Rs9,500 ~Rs12,500
$201 – $350 Older iPhones (iPhone 11/12) & mid-range Pixels ~Rs16,500 – Rs28,000 ~Rs22,000 – Rs36,500
$351 – $500 iPhone 13 / 14 base models, Galaxy S22/S23 ~Rs68,000 – Rs89,000 ~Rs84,000 – Rs109,000
Above $500 (Flagships) iPhone 15/16/17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25/S26 Ultra ~Rs132,000 – Rs154,000 ~Rs158,000 – Rs184,500

Step-by-Step: How to Register Your Phone via *8484#

Never pay cash to middlemen claiming to offer "discounted patch approvals." Registering your device officially takes three minutes:

  1. Find Both IMEIs: Dial *#06# on your phone dialer. Note down both 15-digit IMEI numbers (IMEI 1 and IMEI 2/eSIM) so both slots are approved together.
  2. Generate Your PSID via *8484#: Dial *8484# from any local SIM or visit the official DIRBS portal, select Passport (within 60 days of travel) or CNIC, and enter your IMEIs.
  3. Pay at Any Bank or Mobile Wallet: You will receive a 17-digit Payment Slip ID (PSID) via SMS. Pay the exact PTA mobile tax amount under FBR/Government Taxes in JazzCash, Easypaisa, HBL, Meezan or any 1Link banking app.

"Always verify a second-hand phone's IMEI on the PTA DVS app before handing over payment in the market, and make sure the physical box IMEI matches the *#06# screen to avoid cloned-IMEI scams."

Danish Ali, Consumer Telecom Analyst

Read more smartphone comparisons and local assembly updates in our Gadgets section.

Reporting by the WritePures Mobile & Consumer Policy Desk.