FBR collects Rs 5 billion by registering 44 million mobile phones since January

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has collected Rs 5 billion by registering 44 million mobile phones under the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) since January 15, 2019. In order to curb the menace of mobile theft as well as smuggling of used (second-hand) mobile phones in the country, the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) was made operational on the direction of the federal cabinet.
As informed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, the number of IMEIs registered since the 15th Jan 2019 is 44 million, generating Rs 5 billion revenue approximately. The FBR has conveyed to the incoming international passengers that mobile phones will be cleared by the system in accordance with the applicable rates of duties and taxes.
Previously, the mobile phone sets were cleared by the system in accordance with admissible allowances under the Baggage Rules, whereby the first mobile phone in a year was allowed registration/white-listing in DIRBS free of duty/taxes.
However, this registration of first mobile phone without payment of duties and taxes has been withdrawn under the new Customs general order of the FBR.
Under the revised procedure for registration of mobile devices brought into Pakistan by international travellers, the FBR has said that the information submitted by the applicant will be auto-processed/ validated through the WEBOC system. Now, the system shall electronically generate payment slip ID (PSID) for payment of duty/taxes. The applicant will then have options to pay the leviable duty/taxes through online banking, ATM, mobile banking and bank branches of all leading banks. Once the system confirms the payment of duty/taxes, the mobile device will be white-listed in DIRBS, the FBR said.
The travellers can register the mobile phone sets brought in following the said procedure within 60 days of their arrival in Pakistan. After the expiry of aforesaid time limit, such mobile devices shall be registered on payment of leviable duty/taxes along with prescribed fine notified for the purpose.