The Pakistani Communications Authority (PTA) advised consumers to verify the tax payment status of mobile devices before purchase to ensure compliance with the Federal Revenue Council regulations (FBR) and avoid potential service disturbances. The consultant, which was issued on Friday, stressed that mobile devices must be registered under the appropriate computerized national identity card (CNIC) or the passport category in the device identification, registration and ban system (DERBS).
Consumers who buy unregistered mobile phones must pay all the taxes and duties in force within 60 days to enable access to the network. PTA also warned individuals against using unauthorized brokers to tax payment, and urged them to pay payments only through official banking channels.
Clarifying its role, PTA stated that taxes fall under the jurisdiction of FBR, while its responsibility is limited to ensuring the legal registration of devices through DERBS to facilitate delivery on local networks.