ISLAMABAD – Pakistani authorities introduced customs taxes on mobile phones to collect duty and taxes but PTA registration fees or taxes are costly, and people are going for illegal and cheap options.
As the government imposed heavy taxes on phones, especially high-end devices, people in Pakistan started IMEI tampering to cut the cost, an illegal move that attracts legal action.
In recent years, several mobile shop owners and even online platforms were involved in IMEI patching as they tweaked the original IMEI with the IMEI of another cheaper phone to bypass the system.
People in markets are using IMEI of Nokia keypad phones for Samsung and other premium devices.
The people involved in the practice are about to face a tough time from authorities as law and enforcement agencies have identified racket involved in mobile phones frequently being smuggled to Pakistan through UAE and other countries, and with IMEI patching, the whole thing causing losses to national exchequer worth billions of rupees.
Besides the crackdown in local markets, portals like cpidserver.com which provides IMEI patch services will be blocked in Pakistan.
PTA Mobile Tax Calculator
| $1 to $30 | Rs550 |
| $31 to $100 | Rs4,323 |
| $101 to $200 | Rs11,561 |
| $201 to $350 | Rs14,661 + 17pc Sales Tax Ad Valorem |
| $351 to $500 | Rs23,420 + 17pc Sales Tax Ad Valorem |
| $501 and above | Rs37,007 + 17pc Sales Tax Ad Valorem |
