Overseas Pakistanis and foreigners can now use mobile phones for 120 days without PTA tax
Good news for all overseas Pakistanis and foreigners coming to Pakistan! The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have collaborated to develop a new system for the temporary registration of mobile phones brought by foreign persons. The new system aims to ease the concerns of overseas Pakistanis and foreigners visiting Pakistan regarding their mobile devices being blocked. The new temporary registration system was inaugurated in a ceremony by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif. The new system gives foreigners and overseas Pakistanis 120 days to use their cell phones without paying taxes.
It is pertinent to mention here that the timeline was initially set to 60 days with an exception for some people to extend it to 120 days. However, Prime Minister Shahbaz during his speech asked the relevant authorities to erase the word exception and make it 120 days for all individuals.
Other notable guests who attended the ceremony include Federal Minister of IT and Telecom Syed Aminul Haque, PTA Chairman Major General Hafeez ur Rehman and other PTA officials.
Temporary mobile phone registration service launched for overseas Pakistanis and foreigners
The new temporary registration system is specifically designed for those who do not intend to stay in Pakistan for a long period of time. However, it is relevant to mention here that the new system will only apply to mobile phones.
Requirements to use the new temporary registration service:
To use this system, applicants must provide their passport number, arrival date, planned departure date, the mobile SIM card registered to their name and the IMEI number of their device.
What happens after 120 days?
After a stay of 120 days, the IMEI numbers used under this system will be suspended and can no longer be used on the local network service. In exceptional cases, if the same applicant visits Pakistan again, he must reapply for the Temporary Registration Service.
How does this new system work?
Under the new system, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will work together to exchange immigration data. The system verifies the applicant’s date of arrival in real time through Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) IBMS. This data will be linked to the FIA’s data on the entry and exit of passengers from Pakistan. When passengers arrive in Pakistan and want to register their phone for 120 days, immigration personnel enter their details into the new system. The FIA then verifies the passenger’s entry into Pakistan and activates their phone by integrating the data.
Will the phone work the next time you plan to visit Pakistan?
The good news is that if you plan to visit Pakistan again, you can still use the same phone. Currently, after 60 days of using a phone, travelers will not be able to use the same phone on their next visit. However, with this new system, if you are a Pakistani abroad or a foreigner who regularly visits Pakistan, you can reactivate the same phone number and SIM card using the immigration details.
This system not only helps overseas Pakistanis and foreigners who visit Pakistan for a short period of time, but also improves the image of the country. It ensures that only real individuals can take advantage of this facility. This new initiative is another step taken to provide maximum facilities especially for overseas Pakistanis and foreigners visiting for a short time.
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