PTA Denies Viral Mobile Tax Instalment Notice, Calls It Fake

A notification claiming that mobile device taxes can now be paid in instalments has gone viral on social media platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed the notice is fake and clarified it has no authority whatsoever over mobile device taxation.

PTA issued a formal public advisory on July 2, 2026, stating that the circulating notification is false and misleading. The authority said it has not issued any such directive and does not have the power to do so.

Why PTA Cannot Make Such an Announcement

According to PTA, its role in the mobile device system is limited to registration and compliance, which it manages through the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). This system tracks whether a phone is legally imported and registered, and allows blocking of non-compliant devices on Pakistani networks.

PTA said the assessment, levy, and collection of taxes on mobile devices falls exclusively under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). FBR is responsible for:

• Deciding which taxes apply to which devices

• Setting tax rates

• Managing the collection process

• Announcing any changes to payment terms or exemptions

Since PTA has no role in these functions, the authority said it is not possible for it to announce an instalment scheme for mobile device taxes. It added that any such announcement, if genuine, would have to come from FBR, not PTA.

What PTA Actually Announced Recently

The only genuine recent public advisory issued by PTA relates to a scheduled maintenance window for its DIRBS system. PTA said the DIRBS portal (dirbs.pta.gov.pk) and related services will remain unavailable from July 3, 2026, at 5:00 PM until July 6, 2026, at 4:00 AM due to a system upgrade.

PTA clarified that this maintenance notice has no connection to the fake tax instalment notification circulating online.

PTA's Advisory to Citizens

PTA advised the public not to share or rely on unverified information circulating on social media. The authority said authentic updates from PTA are available only through its official website and verified social media accounts.

PTA further advised:

• Before forwarding any notification claiming to be from a government body such as PTA, FBR, or NADRA, check the authority's official channels

• If the announcement does not appear there, treat it as unverified

• For any query related to mobile device taxes or duties, contact FBR, not PTA

Source: [phoneworld]