Correction — 2 October 2026: We removed unsupported shop prices, fixed Passport/CNIC tax amounts, guaranteed resale claims and the claim that our calculator shows a live FBR demand. This guide explains how to compare offers using evidence for the actual handset.
For an iPhone 16 Pro Max offered in Pakistan, the useful comparison is the documented total cost of a compliant device. A seller’s “official”, “non-PTA” or “approved” label alone does not establish device status, tax payment or warranty coverage.
Check the exact handset before comparing prices
Record the storage variant and condition on the quotation. Check every IMEI through PTA’s official service and compare the identifiers with the device and invoice. A dual-SIM handset may have more than one identifier. A model name, box sticker or another buyer’s screenshot cannot replace checking the unit you are buying.
If registration is required, obtain the assessment through the official process. FBR’s mobile-device duty information and PTA DIRBS are the starting points. Do not treat the phone’s advertised price as its customs valuation or assume that another person’s Passport assessment applies to you.
Use a written total-cost worksheet
- Compliant offer: quoted handset price, any separately disclosed charges, documented registration status and written warranty terms.
- Registration-required offer: quoted handset price plus the official assessed duties/taxes and any documented service charges.
- Both offers: condition, battery information, storage, accessories, return window and seller identification.
For illustration only, an offer priced at PKR 400,000 with an assessed amount of PKR 120,000 has a combined cost of PKR 520,000 before other disclosed charges. These invented amounts explain the arithmetic; they are not an iPhone price or tax quotation.
Questions to ask the seller
Ask whether the written price includes all registration-related amounts, who will complete any required registration, what proof you will receive, and what happens if the official assessment differs from the seller’s estimate. Obtain the warranty provider’s identity and exclusions in writing. Registration status does not itself promise a warranty, defect-free condition or a future resale price.
Avoid promises of shortcuts
Do not base a purchase on switching between IMEIs to extend network use, using another person’s travel eligibility, altered identifiers or an informal promise of permanent approval. Confirm the legitimate registration route for your circumstances through PTA/FBR.
Sources and scope
This is TaxToday’s independent purchase-checking checklist, not a market price survey or official assessment. See our PTA registration and assessment guide. Its numerical estimator is paused while current rates and valuation rules are verified. Reviewed by Faisal Hamid Khosa on 2 October 2026.