The government is considering proposals to provide relief in PTA mobile phone taxes for overseas Pakistanis, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the Senate on Thursday.
Speaking during Question Hour in response to a supplementary question by Senator Abid Sher Ali, the minister said the issue has been raised repeatedly by overseas Pakistanis during conventions held in the country. He noted that expatriates have long sought relaxation in taxes and duties on mobile phones brought from abroad.
Dr. Tariq Fazal said such phones remain operational for only a few weeks after arrival in Pakistan, after which services are suspended unless the required PTA tax is paid. He added that the government is seriously examining options to ease this burden for overseas visitors.
The minister said tax rates currently vary depending on the model of the mobile phone, and any proposed relief would be considered within that framework.
The development comes weeks after the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance asked the Federal Board of Revenue and the Tax Policy Unit to review the rationalization of duties and taxes on imported mobile phones in the budget for 2026-27.
If approved, the move could provide much-needed relief to overseas Pakistanis who frequently face high registration costs when bringing personal mobile devices into the country.
