The Pakistani government has cut import duties on various smartphone categories, aiming to promote local manufacturing while addressing surging mobile imports in a major tariff overhaul for 2026-27.
Pakistan has cut import duties on mobile phones for fiscal 2026-27, easing charges on both premium handsets and lower-priced models as part of a wider tariff overhaul. According to a brief issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the regulatory duty on smartphones priced above $500 has been reduced to Rs17,600 per handset from Rs22,000, while the additional customs duty on the relevant phone categories has been lowered to 4% from 6%.
The revised structure also trims fixed regulatory duty slabs for completely built-up smartphones across the price range. Phones valued at up to $30 will now attract Rs240, while devices in the $30-$100 bracket fall to Rs2,400. The duty for the $100-$200 band has been cut to Rs6,000, for $200-$350 to Rs8,800, and for $350-$500 to Rs12,000. For premium handsets above $500, the reduction is Rs4,400 per unit, or 20%.
For phones imported in completely knocked-down or semi-knocked-down form, the ministry said regulatory duty has been lowered to 4% from 5%, with additional customs duty also reduced to 4%. The government has framed the changes as part of the National Tariff Policy 2025-30, signalling a continued effort to rationalise import duties while still supporting local assembly and manufacturing.
The move comes after a sharp rise in mobile-phone imports. Profit Pakistan Today reported that imports of smartphones and cellular phones climbed to $1.888 billion in FY2025-26 from $1.497 billion a year earlier, while imports of fully built smartphones more than doubled to $357.7 million. The Ministry of Commerce also noted that the Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy 2020-25 has expired and that a successor policy has yet to be approved, although incentives already granted to manufacturers and assemblers remain protected under the Fifth Schedule of the Customs Act 1969.
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