Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) may seek cabinet's approval for further extension in deadline for blocking unregistered mobile phones, it is learnt. Official sources told Business Recorder that the federal cabinet is scheduled to meet today (Thursday) where the MoITT will table a proposal, seeking further extension in the deadline for registering mobile devices under the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Device Identification Registration & Blocking System (DIRBS).
The deadline expired on January 15, 2019 and there is uncertainty prevailing with respect to mobile device registration as well as payment of duty.
According to the PTA documents, mobile devices which are not activated by January 15, 2019 will be provided an option to get such devices regularised on payment of leviable duty/taxes along with payment of equivalent to 10 percent of the amount of duty/taxes involved thereon on furnishing of Certificate of Compliances issued by the PTA.
However, the deadline was earlier extended by around five times in the past. The PTA is in process to establish online portal system which would be ready for soft testing by January 25, 2019.
The sources said that another extension cannot be ruled out while keeping in view the hardships being faced by international passengers at airports regarding registration of their mobile phones devices. The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday last recommended for further extension in deadline for blocking unregistered mobile phones, while saying that the PTA online system is not in place and international passengers would suffer.
The sources said that the ministry would table the recommendations of the standing committee and seek extension till the PTA online system becomes operational. Last week, the PTA extended the deadline while saying that as per directives issued by the federal government regarding extension in timeline for registration of mobile devices under the DIRBS, all mobile devices which are already activated on cellular mobile networks within Pakistan by January 15, 2019 will remain operational without service disruption. Even non-compliant devices in operation prior to this date will be tied to these numbers and will remain operational till the useful life of the device.
As per the policy, mobile phone would not be blocked automatically for 30 days and one has to register it with the PTA during this period after paying duty/taxes (in case more than one phone); however, the Senate Standing Committee recommended that this period is very short while keeping in view the extremely poor awareness campaign by the PTA and therefore it should be extended for another 60 days.
Prior to the DIRBS launch on 01-12-2018, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had notified procedure for registration of mobile devices brought by international passengers in their accompanied luggage. Under the said procedure, the international passengers were provided option to get their mobile registered either at Customs Kiosks available at the international airports or at the nearest customs offices in the city. More than 37,000 mobile devices have been registered till date.
However, in order to further facilitate the international passengers, the FBR and the PTA in coordination with cellular mobile operators are exploring technological solutions whereby passengers are not required to interface with Customs at any stage for registration/regularisation of mobile devices imported in accompanied luggage.
The tentative features of this solution are: (i) registration through the CMOS-franchise outlets; (ii) registration device through web; (iii) and registration of devices through USSD code. The payment of duty/taxes can be made through all major banks, online banking, CMOs franchises and mobile wallets.