Islamabad, April 1, 2019: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has decided to block initially some 3 million mobile phones sets, which imported into Pakistan illegally.
Sources told Thebizuodate.com that a high level meeting of telecommunication companies was held in Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) office Islamabad on Monday to discuss the issue of illegal import of mobile phones and payment of taxes.
After detailed deliberation, the PTA has informed the telecom companies that it has decided that initially some 3 million smuggled mobile phone sets will be blocked as despite a grace period the owners have not paid government taxes.
However, it was also decided that phones sets will be unlocked after payment of taxes and duties as per structure announced by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
During the meeting telecom companies were allowed to collect the taxes and duties on smuggled cell phones. Mobile phones are likely to block during this week and will be unlock within 8 hours after payment of taxes on any office/ franchise of Telecome company.
As per PTA estimates some 150 million illegal or smuggled cell phones sets are being used in Pakistan.
In December last year government announced to block the all illegal/ smuggled mobile phones, however later the date was extended for two months.
The government has already setup counters at airports for collection of taxes on import of mobile phones.
