The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is reviewing proposals to provide tax relief on mobile phones for overseas Pakistanis [1].
These measures aim to ease the financial burden on the diaspora and encourage the continued use of Pakistani mobile services during extended stays abroad [1, 2, 3].
Government officials are considering a reduction in the sales tax for mobile devices, potentially lowering the rate from 25% to 18% [1]. This proposal is being evaluated as part of the 2026-27 budget cycle [1].
Parallel to the tax review, the PTA has announced initiatives to protect the connectivity of expatriates. The authority introduced measures to prevent the blocking of SIM cards for overseas Pakistanis, ensuring they can retain their local numbers while residing in other countries [3, 4].
The combined effort focuses on supporting the diaspora by reducing the costs of importing devices, and maintaining communication links with home. While the tax relief remains under review, the SIM protection measures are designed to stop the automatic disconnection of accounts due to prolonged inactivity outside the country [3, 4].
“The government is reviewing proposals to provide tax relief on mobile phones for overseas Pakistanis.”
These proposed changes signal an effort by the Pakistani government to maintain stronger economic and digital ties with its diaspora. By lowering the barrier for device imports and ensuring permanent connectivity through SIM preservation, the state seeks to incentivize the expatriate community to remain integrated into the national telecommunications ecosystem.
