Buying an imported phone in Pakistan has always felt like an expensive dream. High taxes made these phones cost much more than their real price. But now there is some good news for everyday buyers. The government has made it easy for people to save money on imported phones by cutting duties by 20%.
This move is part of the new budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. It is a simple step, but it can bring a big change for anyone planning to buy a new imported smartphone. Let’s understand what has changed, why it matters, and how much money you can actually save.
What Has Changed in the New Policy
The government has reduced the regulatory duty and additional customs duty on imported mobile phones. This change comes under the Ministry of Commerce, and it applies to phones that are brought into the country as fully built units.
The biggest cut is for expensive phones. Phones priced above $500 will now have a much lower duty than before. This is a simple win for people who want the latest and most powerful phones without paying too much extra tax.
Here is a simple table that shows the change in an easy way:
| Phone Price Category | Old Regulatory Duty | New Regulatory Duty | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above $500 | Rs. 22,000 | Rs. 17,600 | Down by Rs. 4,400 (20%) |
| $100 to $200 | Higher rate | Rs. 6,000 | Reduced |
| $30 to $100 | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 2,400 | Reduced |
| Up to $30 | Rs. 300 | Rs. 240 | Reduced |
Along with this, the Additional Customs Duty (ACD) has also come down from 6% to 4%. This cut applies to almost all imported smartphone categories, making the whole import process a bit lighter on the pocket.
Phones that come into Pakistan in parts, known as CKD (Completely Knocked Down) and SKD (Semi Knocked Down) units, are also getting relief. Their regulatory duty has dropped from 5% to 4%, and their additional customs duty has also gone down to 4%, same as fully built phones.
Why the Government Made This Move
You might wonder why the government decided to make this change now. The simple answer is rising imports. In the last year, Pakistan saw a sharp jump in phone imports. The total import value of smartphones and cellular phones grew from around $1.497 billion to $1.888 billion. That is a huge increase in just one year.
Imports of fully built smartphones more than doubled, reaching $357.7 million. This shows that more and more people in Pakistan want to buy imported phones, even with high taxes. The government noticed this trend and decided to make the process a little easier for buyers.
There is another important point here. Pakistan’s Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy, which supported local phone assembly, has now expired. A new policy to replace it has not been approved yet. However, the benefits given to local phone makers and assemblers are still protected under the law. So even while cutting duties on imported phones, the government is trying to keep local manufacturing safe and stable at the same time.
This is part of a bigger plan called the National Tariff Policy 2025-30, which aims to make trade and import taxes more balanced across different industries, not just phones.
How Much Will You Actually Save
This is the part most people care about. If you are planning to buy a premium imported phone, you could save close to Rs. 14,000 in some cases, according to earlier statements from tax officials. That is not a small amount for most families.
For cheaper phones, the savings will be smaller, but every bit of relief helps. If you were already planning to import a mid-range or budget phone, you may still see a small drop in the final price once retailers adjust their rates.
It is worth remembering that mobile phones in Pakistan carry more than one type of tax. On top of the regulatory duty, buyers also pay General Sales Tax, a Mobile Device Levy, and Withholding Tax. So even with this cut, the total tax on an imported phone remains fairly high. But this reduction is still a simple and welcome step in the right direction.
Who Will Benefit the Most
The people who benefit the most from this policy are buyers of expensive, high-end imported phones. These are usually flagship models from popular international brands. Since the duty cut on phones above $500 is the biggest, this group of users will notice the change more clearly than others.
At the same time, officials have pointed out that most phones used across the country, close to 95%, are actually assembled locally. Only a small share, around 5%, are imported directly. This means the direct impact of the duty cut will mostly be felt by people who specifically prefer imported and flagship devices over locally assembled ones.
Buyers of budget phones will also see some relief, though the difference will be smaller compared to premium devices.
What This Means for the Phone Market
Lower duties usually push prices down over time, but this does not always happen overnight. Retailers and importers first need to adjust their stock and pricing. So it may take a few weeks before shoppers see the full effect in stores.
Still, this move is expected to make imported phones more accessible and easy to buy for many Pakistanis. It could also encourage more people to consider imported models instead of only looking at locally assembled options. If you want to track official phone tax details, resources like the PTA taxes portal and updates from the Federal Board of Revenue are useful places to check before making a purchase. Buyers can also compare current market prices on sites like WhatMobile before deciding which phone to import.
Final Thoughts
This duty cut is a simple but important step for phone buyers in Pakistan. It shows that the government is listening to the rising demand for imported phones and trying to make buying them a little more easy on the wallet. While taxes on phones are still high overall, this 20% cut is a good starting point.
If you were holding off on buying an imported phone because of the price, now might be a good time to check updated rates. Prices may take some time to fully reflect the change, but the relief is real and it is on its way.
FAQs
1. What is the new duty cut on imported phones in Pakistan?
The government has cut the regulatory duty on imported smartphones by 20%. Phones above $500 now have a duty of Rs. 17,600 instead of Rs. 22,000.
2. When did this duty cut take effect?
The reduced duty rates are part of the FY2026-27 budget and apply from the start of the new fiscal year.
3. Will cheaper phones also become less expensive?
Yes, but the drop is smaller. Budget and mid-range phones see a much smaller reduction compared to premium models above $500.
4. Does this mean all phone taxes are now low?
No. Phones still carry other taxes like GST, Withholding Tax, and a Mobile Device Levy, so the overall tax burden remains fairly high.
