iPhone 16 series hit by new import valuations in Pakistan

The Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi, has issued revised customs values for the import of 187 models of Apple iPhones, including the newly launched iPhone 16 series. The changes, formalized in Valuation Ruling No. 1909 of 2025, were announced on Friday following stakeholder consultations and a comprehensive review of market trends.

The updated customs valuation includes 16 variants of the iPhone 16, in addition to earlier models such as the iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, and 11. The ruling also incorporates depreciation allowances for older models that have reached the end of their product life cycles.

The decision follows formal requests from the Collectorate of Customs (Airport), Islamabad, and several importers, who highlighted that the existing valuation framework, now over a year old, no longer reflected current international pricing. Customs authorities cited outdated values and the need to accommodate new models as the primary reasons for the revision.

“In response to market feedback and in view of the latest pricing dynamics, the directorate undertook a detailed valuation process under Sections 25 and 25A of the Customs Act, 1969,” a customs spokesperson said.

The Directorate reviewed 90 days of import data and held multiple meetings with stakeholders, who were invited to submit import documentation and pricing evidence. The evaluation process included analysis of declared values and current international pricing benchmarks.

The new valuation table, detailed in a five-page annexure attached to the ruling, lists assessed customs values for all 187 iPhone models. These values will now serve as the benchmark for calculating duties and taxes at the time of import.

The move aims to align Pakistan’s import tariffs with global market realities while ensuring fair tax collection and transparency in mobile phone imports.