PTA warns mobile buyers to verify FBR tax compliance before purchase

KARACHI: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has advised consumers to verify the tax payment status of mobile devices before making a purchase, warning that buyers must ensure compliance with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) tax regulations to avoid service disruptions.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the regulator emphasised that all mobile devices must be registered under the correct computerised national identity card (CNIC) or passport category in the device identification, registration, and blocking system (DIRBS). Consumers purchasing unregistered mobile phones are required to pay all applicable taxes and duties within 60 days to enable network access.

The PTA also urged individuals to submit tax payments exclusively through authorised banking channels, cautioning against fraudulent intermediaries claiming to facilitate the process. The telecom regulator clarified that taxation is solely the domain of the FBR, while the PTA’s role is limited to overseeing the legal registration of devices through DIRBS to ensure their connectivity on local networks.