Pakistan’s telecom regulator is in talks with mobile operators to significantly reduce eSIM prices, with the current Rs. 2,000 charge likely to be lowered to between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,500 to encourage greater adoption.

During a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman said customers can transfer an eSIM to another compatible device free of charge up to 10 times.

He said the PTA is negotiating with telecom companies to bring down eSIM prices, adding that costs are expected to decline further as consumer demand increases.

The chairman also clarified that the PTA has no authority over taxes imposed on mobile phones, noting that such matters fall under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

He told the committee that Pakistan currently manufactures around 25 million mobile phones annually, while premium brands such as Samsung and Apple are imported and taxed accordingly.

The PTA chief further cautioned that excessive taxation on mobile devices could discourage smartphone adoption and hamper the country’s transition to 5G services.