Imported Mobile Phones to become Cheaper as prices may fall by Rs14,000 from July 1

ISLAMABAD – Mobile phone users across Pakistan could soon benefit from a major price reduction as the federal government has approved a 20% cut in regulatory duty on imported mobile phones, paving the way for smartphone prices to fall by as much as Rs14,000 from July 1, 2026. The cut in regulatory duty is expected to lower the prices of premium and high-end smartphones by Rs10,000 to Rs14,000, providing direct financial relief to consumers amid persistent inflationary pressures. Speaking before NA Standing Committee on Finance, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial confirmed that the duty reduction will take effect from July 1 under the Finance Bill 2026. He maintained that the existing tax structure remains balanced and continues to play a vital role in supporting government revenues. However, Langrial cautioned that any broader reduction in taxes on expensive imported smartphones would primarily benefit affluent consumers while potentially causing significant losses to the national exchequer. He suggested that any future relief measures should focus on entry-level mobile phones valued between $31 and $200, allowing low-income households and first-time smartphone buyers to gain maximum benefit. On the other hand, parliamentary committee directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to immediately explore an installment-based payment mechanism for PTA mobile registration taxes, a move that could unlock millions of currently blocked non-PTA devices across the country. Committee members noted that a large number of smartphones remain unusable due to hefty PTA tax liabilities, arguing that consumers should be given the option to pay these charges in installments, just as they do for other products and services worldwide. Chairman of the committee Syed Naveed Qamar instructed the FBR to coordinate with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and prepare a workable framework for tax payments in installments, aiming to ease the financial burden on smartphone users. Th