Ministry of Information Technology is planning to launch an online registration and taxation method for mobile phones which overseas Pakistanis or international passengers want to take with them in Pakistan.
This step is coming after Pakistani Telecommunication Authority (PTA) decided to deactivate mobile phones which are not custom duty paid or registered.
Ministry of IT, PTA and the members from Customs informed senate committee about the government plan for this new registration method.
Online Registration Method:
If you are a Pakistani who is travelling from any country to back home with smartphones purchased in any foreign county, then you will have to go through registration procedure:
1) Visit the official website of DIRBS
2) Create an account and sign in
3)Provide IMEI number
4) Pay the custom tax
5) Your smart phone will be registered
PTA will only register unique IMEI numbers and cloned or stolen devices will be rejected. Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) was launched to promote and support import, use, and growth of legal devices and end the smuggling and theft of mobile devices.
Taxation Payment Method:
The taxation payment process will also be made simple and easy:
1) Visit the DIRBS website
2) Provide CNIC, IMEI and Passport No.
3) Payment Slip will be issued
4) Applicant can pay through debit/credit card of banks, ewallet or online payment tools
According to the Ministry one smartphone will be tax exempted and others will be charged. It is expected that soon the overseas registration process will be launched.
Initially travelers will only be able to register their personal device, later it was extended to accept registration applications for other devices after charging due taxes.