Govt Considers PTA Tax Relief for Overseas Pakistanis

The government is considering proposals to provide relief in Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) taxes on mobile phones for overseas Pakistanis visiting the country, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the Senate on Thursday.

Responding to a supplementary question raised by Senator Abid Sher Ali during the Question Hour, the minister stated that overseas Pakistanis had repeatedly highlighted concerns regarding PTA taxes on mobile phones during overseas conventions held in Pakistan.

He noted that mobile phones brought from abroad remain functional for only a limited duration before services are suspended unless the applicable PTA tax is paid.

The minister informed the Senate that tax rates currently vary across different mobile phone models and said the government is seriously evaluating options to reduce the financial burden on expatriates.

The development follows recent directions issued by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Tax Policy Unit to review and rationalise duties and taxes on imported mobile phones in the upcoming federal budget for 2026–27.