The federal government has announced a new mobile phone registration policy in Pakistan with immediate effect. The new policy will ensure quick registration of mobile phones brought by international travelers and tourists in their baggage.
A web-based user interface application called Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) has been launched and all the stakeholders are on board. The system has been devised by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) with the coordination of all cellular operators in Pakistan.
If you are an overseas Pakistani or an international traveler, Note that you are allowed to bring 5 mobile phones in Pakistan in a year. No duty will be charged on your first mobile phone every year while you have to pay customs charges for the remaining four every year.
International travelers will have 60 days to register a mobile phone they brought from overseas.
After the deadline, there will be a fine and free baggage allowance will also be terminated.
The government has focused on the swift and easy mechanism for paying duties and levies. The good part is international passengers will not have to face long ques and one can access the DIRBS by browsing the PTA website or by visiting franchises of cellular operators in the country.
The system will ask for details like:
- Passport no
- CNIC no
- IMEI no
DIRBS will generate an electronic payment slip stating the customs duty and other taxes. International travelers can pay the taxes through:
- ATM
- Mobile banking
- Online banking
- And by visiting the branches of all banks in Pakistan
The local residents can also register mobile phones bought from foreign countries by using the same channel. You can check if your mobile phone is PTA compliant/verified or not to save the trouble as PTA could block your mobile phone.
The local traders who are in possession of mobile devices through illegal channels have been advised to visit the nearest Collectorate of Customs and submit the stock. The customs will evaluate the mobile devices and issue CoC (Certificate Of Compliance).
If you are using courier services to import a mobile phone, customs will detain the device and issue CoC after the verification. For those who want to use foreign SIMs’ on roaming will not be required to pay any customs duty or obtain a CoC. Moreover, there is no time limit to use a mobile phone on a roaming network according to the new mobile phone registration policy.
