PTA tax on smartphones now available in installment plan

The federal government has approved a major relief for mobile phone users by introducing an installment facility for payment of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) tax on imported smartphones.

The decision was included in the Finance Bill 2026–27, which was presented by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, and later approved by the National Assembly. Under the new law, individuals who are required to pay tax on imported mobile phones through the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) will now be allowed to pay the tax in installments.

Officials said the installment facility will apply to both new and used imported smartphones. However, all payments must be completed before the end of the financial year in which the device is imported. The new provision is expected to ease financial pressure on consumers who previously had to pay the full PTA tax amount at once before using imported mobile phones.

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From July 1, citizens will be able to benefit from this installment option under the revised tax system, making smartphone registration more flexible and user-friendly.

In a separate development, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb defended the country’s economic data and rejected concerns over GDP calculations. While concluding the general debate on the Federal Budget 2026–27 in the National Assembly, he said national consensus is essential for maintaining economic stability and sustaining reform efforts.

He described the budget as balanced, growth-oriented, and focused on stability, adding that key economic indicators have shown improvement over the past year. Responding to criticism from lawmakers, the finance minister clarified that there has been no change in the methodology used for calculating GDP, per capita income, or other national economic indicators.