The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a tax-free mobile phone registration facility for overseas Pakistanis, allowing them to register one device without paying duties for up to 120 days during each visit to Pakistan.
According to an official statement, the initiative is part of FBR’s policy aimed at facilitating overseas Pakistanis by ensuring uninterrupted mobile connectivity during short-term stays in the country.
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“This policy, implemented in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), allows tax-free mobile registration under the Temporary Mobile Registration System for 120 days per visit,” the FBR said.
The PTA is facilitating the process through its Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). Overseas Pakistanis can register their mobile devices free of charge via the DIRBS portal.
The FBR and PTA emphasized that this initiative reflects their commitment to improving digital access and ease of connectivity for overseas visitors.
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As part of broader digital inclusion efforts, the PTA earlier announced partnerships with PTCL and private sector firms to deploy free Wi-Fi hotspots at selected Higher Education Commission (HEC)-recognized universities, including women’s institutions.
Additionally, in celebration of surpassing 200 million telecom subscribers, the PTA is distributing 2,000 locally assembled smartphones to female SIM card owners across Pakistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) through computerized balloting.
“PTA remains committed to connecting Pakistan and digitally empowering the nation,” the statement concluded.
