The federal government has decided to reduce the regulatory duty on imported mobile phones by 20 per cent in the Budget 2026–27, a move expected to lower the prices of high-end and premium smartphones by between Rs10,000 and Rs14,000.
According to official sources, the reduction is intended to provide direct financial relief to consumers.
Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial stated that the 20 per cent reduction in regulatory duty on imported mobile phones will come into effect on 1 July 2026.
He noted that the existing tax structure under the Finance Bill 2026 is balanced and remains effective in generating government revenue, adding that no further adjustments to tax rates are currently required.
Mr Langrial also cautioned that a broader reduction in duties on expensive imported smartphones would primarily benefit higher-income consumers while potentially causing significant revenue losses to the national exchequer.
The FBR Chairman suggested that any additional relief measures should be restricted to entry-level mobile phones valued between US$31 and US$200. Such a targeted approach, he said, would better support lower-income consumers and individuals purchasing a smartphone for the first time.
