The federal government has reduced regulatory duty and additional customs duties on imported mobile phones for the fiscal year 2026-27, a move that could lower the tax burden on smartphones across several price categories.
The biggest reduction applies to high-end smartphones priced above $500. The regulatory duty on these devices has been cut by Rs. 4,400 per handset, falling from Rs. 22,000 to Rs. 17,600.
The changes were outlined in a brief issued by the Commerce Ministry, which shows that regulatory duty on Completely Built Unit (CBU) smartphones has been reduced across all major price ranges.
Under the revised structure, phones valued at up to $30 will now carry a regulatory duty of Rs. 240, compared with the previous Rs. 300. This represents a reduction of Rs. 60 per handset.
For smartphones priced between $30 and $100, the duty has been reduced from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 2,400, providing a Rs. 600 reduction.
The regulatory duty on phones in the $100 to $200 category has also been lowered. It now stands at Rs. 6,000 instead of Rs. 7,500, resulting in a Rs. 1,500 reduction.
For devices valued between $200 and $350, the duty has dropped from Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 8,800. This means the regulatory burden has been reduced by Rs. 2,200 per phone.
Smartphones priced between $350 and $500 will now face a regulatory duty of Rs. 12,000, down from Rs. 15,000. Consumers and importers therefore receive a reduction of Rs. 3,000 in this category.
The largest adjustment has been made for smartphones above $500. Their regulatory duty has been reduced by 20 percent, bringing the charge down to Rs. 17,600 from Rs. 22,000.
The revised duty structure could have an impact on the pricing of imported smartphones in Pakistan. However, the final retail price of a mobile phone depends on several other factors, including exchange rates, taxes, import costs, distributor margins and international prices.
High-end smartphone buyers could particularly benefit from the lower regulatory duty if importers and retailers pass some of the savings on to consumers. Premium devices have traditionally faced a higher overall tax burden because of their value.
The changes also provide a more gradual reduction across different smartphone price brackets. Rather than limiting the adjustment to expensive devices, the revised structure reduces regulatory duty on phones ranging from entry-level models to premium smartphones.
The government’s decision comes as Pakistan continues to manage its mobile phone import and taxation framework. Changes in duties can influence both consumer prices and the commercial environment for smartphone importers.
For consumers, the reduction could provide some relief when purchasing imported mobile phones, particularly in the higher price categories. The actual impact at retail outlets, however, will depend on how quickly the revised duties are reflected in market prices.
The new regulatory duty rates for fiscal year 2026-27 represent a notable change in Pakistan’s smartphone import structure. With reductions ranging from Rs. 60 to Rs. 4,400 per handset, the revised rates could make imported mobile devices somewhat more affordable if the savings reach buyers.
The Rs. 4,400 reduction on smartphones above $500 remains the most significant change under the revised duty structure and is likely to attract the most attention from consumers interested in premium smartphones.
