Islamabad – July 3, 2025 — The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced a 120-day tax-free mobile registration facility for Overseas Pakistanis, available during every visit to the country. The initiative aims to provide uninterrupted mobile services for Pakistanis living abroad during their short stays in the country.
According to PTA, this new feature is being offered free of cost through the Temporary Automated Mobile Registration System (TAMRS). The automated system allows eligible travelers to register their mobile phones for 120 days without paying any additional taxes or duties.
This development is expected to benefit millions of Overseas Pakistanis who have long expressed frustration over the complex and costly mobile registration and tax processes. The new system simplifies and speeds up the registration procedure, ensuring that travelers can use their mobile devices seamlessly during their visits.
Officials from the PTA have described this move as a citizen-friendly step that not only supports the overseas community but also promotes digital connectivity nationwide.
Why Doesn’t PTA Lower the Fees on Imported Smartphones?
While this move benefits overseas Pakistanis, a major concern remains unaddressed: the high duty imposed on imported smartphones for residents. Many Pakistanis are forced to use mobile devices over Wi-Fi without SIM connectivity simply because they cannot afford the exorbitant registration taxes.
There is growing public demand for the PTA to introduce a fixed or slab-based duty system, such as a flat Rs. 50,000 cap or graduated fee structure—to make phone registration more affordable. Such reforms could ease the burden on ordinary citizens and simultaneously boost government revenues by encouraging the legal registration of devices.
Until then, the relief seems one-sided, sparking a debate about digital accessibility and fair policy-making for all residents of Pakistan, not just those visiting temporarily from abroad.
For more information, visit the PTA website or contact the nearest mobile service franchise.
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