ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has facilitated overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals visiting Pakistan by providing a temporary mobile phone registration facility for up to 120 days during each visit. The service allows eligible visitors to use their personal mobile phones on Pakistani mobile networks without paying the applicable Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) taxes during the approved period, subject to the scheme’s conditions.
The facility is available free of charge through the PTA’s online Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) portal. Applicants must create an account and select the option titled “Temporary Registration for Overseas Pakistanis and Foreign Nationals.” They are required to provide their CNIC or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) details, passport information matching their immigration records, their mobile phone’s IMEI number and a Pakistani mobile number registered in their own name. The IMEI number can be obtained by dialling *#06# on the handset. Applicants must also complete the required verification process.
The temporary registration system aims to provide uninterrupted mobile connectivity to overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors during short stays in the country. Under the policy, the facility covers one mobile handset per eligible applicant for up to 120 days per visit. After the approved period expires, the device’s access to local mobile networks is suspended unless it is registered under the applicable rules. The initiative is intended to make communication easier for visitors while ensuring compliance with Pakistan’s mobile device registration requirements.
