One phone policy riles Pak expats
DUBAI — Expats travelling back to Pakistan have voiced concerns and confusion over the new ‘one phone tax-free’ policy introduced by the government. According to the policy, Pakistanis overseas can bring only one phone into the country in a year without paying customs duty and a maximum of four others, for which they have to pay duty.
Additionally, if Pakistanis purchase a new phone or carry any phone in which they wish to insert a SIM card, they must send its IMEI number to 8484 to know about its legal status. The IMEI number can be found on the phone’s box or by dialling *#06#.
Mohammed Zia, who travelled last week from Dubai to Islamabad, said: “I recently travelled to Pakistan with only one phone, a Samsung J7, which is a budget phone for Dh800. I had to pay a tax of Pakistani Rs10,000. How is this fair?”
A number of other travellers complained about the lack of registration counters at the airport. Khurram Shehzad, a Dubai resident, said: “It was a nightmare to register because there is no defined process.”
He added that since he came back to Dubai within 10 days, he did not register his phone.
Another resident, Nouman Rasool, said: “I travelled to Pakistan on December 4, but could not get the phone registered at the airport due to the confusion at the desk.”
Some residents said most people carried more than two phones for their personal use. “Normally, overseas Pakistanis have two-three mobile phones for personal use. One with an international SIM card and the other with a local one. Why should I pay tax on my second set,” questioned Aamir Ali.
Some voiced confusion over the policy when it comes to a family travelling together. “If a family is travelling, will each person by allowed a tax-free phone or will only one be allowed for the family?” asked Abdul Basit.
Backlash
Due to the backlash from overseas Pakistanis, Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, said on Friday the government was considering a reduction on the tax and also the possibility of allowing two duty-free phones.
“We are listening to overseas Pakistanis and will do our best to facilitate Pakistanis around the world,” he said.
Hammad Azhar, Pakistan’s Minister for State for Revenue, clarified the policy in a series of tweets.
“One phone is allowed to be registered as duty-free. No registration/ duty needed on any phone (s) using roaming. No registration/duty needed if phone (s) to be used in Pakistan for less than 30 days. Also, no registration or duty required on any phone that was activated or ever used in Pakistan before December 1, 2018.
“Duties and registration can be done at either at the airports or any of the Custom Houses across Pakistan. Phones are not detained during the process of registration or duty payments,” he added.
The government is also working on an app through which travellers can register their devices.
I travelled to Pakistan on December 4, but could not get the phone registered at the airport due to the confusion at the desk.”
Nouman Rasool, Dubai resident