Pakistan’s Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi, has revised customs values for the import of several smartphone brands, leading to a reduction in the overall Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) tax payable on older and used mobile phones, including Apple’s iPhone 15 series.
The updated valuation applies exclusively to used and refurbished devices imported from abroad and does not affect brand-new handsets. The move is expected to make high-end smartphones relatively more affordable in the local market. Popular brands impacted by the revision include Apple, Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.
Under the new customs values, the base iPhone 15 — originally launched in the United States at $799 — is now valued at approximately $350 in the used market, equivalent to around Rs. 97,800 at the current exchange rate. Based on this valuation, the revised PTA tax is estimated at Rs. 34,101 when registered on a CNIC and Rs. 31,640 when registered on a passport. This brings the total expected cost of a used iPhone 15 to around Rs. 130,000 or higher.
For the iPhone 15 Plus, currently priced at about $370 in the used market (roughly Rs. 103,465), the PTA tax is expected to be Rs. 46,068 on a CNIC and Rs. 40,448 on a passport. The total retail price of the device is likely to hover around Rs. 145,000 or more.
Similarly, the iPhone 15 Pro, with an estimated used value of $400, would attract PTA taxes of around Rs. 47,580 on a CNIC and Rs. 41,960 on a passport. This places its total cost in Pakistan at approximately Rs. 155,000 or above.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, the top-tier model in the series, is expected to cost around Rs. 175,000 in total. Under the revised structure, PTA tax for this device is estimated at Rs. 50,604 on a CNIC and Rs. 44,984 on a passport.
Industry observers say the revised customs valuation could ease the financial burden on consumers seeking premium smartphones in Pakistan’s price-sensitive market, while also encouraging the import of used and refurbished devices through official channels.
