iPhones Set to Get More Expensive in Pakistan as Apple Price Hike May Push PTA Taxes Higher

iPhones and other Apple products are expected to become more expensive in Pakistan after Apple confirmed that rising component costs are forcing the company to increase prices globally. For Pakistani buyers, however, the impact may go beyond Apple’s own price hike, as higher international prices could also push some models toward higher PTA tax levels.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that product price increases had become unavoidable due to sharply rising memory and storage costs. The pressure is being linked to a wider global shortage of key components, partly driven by growing demand from AI-related infrastructure and data centers.

Cook said Apple had tried to absorb the higher costs and shield customers from immediate price increases, but the situation had become difficult to sustain. According to him, the cost pressure from suppliers has now reached a point where price increases can no longer be avoided.

The development is likely to affect iPhone buyers in Pakistan, where Apple products are already expensive due to import costs, currency fluctuations, retailer margins, and PTA approval charges. Since iPhones are largely imported, any rise in Apple’s global pricing is usually reflected in the local market.

The bigger concern for Pakistani consumers is that higher global pricing may also affect PTA/FBR approval costs. Imported phones are taxed on the basis of their declared value, which means a higher-priced iPhone can attract a higher approval cost.

A simple example can be seen from the current iPhone 17 series. The standard iPhone 17 currently carries a PTA tax of PKR 149,640 on a passport and PKR 164,604 on CNIC. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro carries a much higher PTA tax of PKR 190,679 on passport and PKR 209,747 on CNIC.

This means the Pro model already costs PKR 41,039 more on passport and PKR 45,143 more on CNIC in PTA tax alone compared with the standard iPhone 17.

Now, if Apple increases the price of the next standard iPhone and its declared value moves closer to the current Pro model’s price category, Pakistani buyers may not only pay a higher international price but could also face a PTA tax closer to the Pro level. In simple terms, a phone that currently attracts around PKR 164,604 CNIC tax could move toward a tax level of around PKR 209,747, depending on its declared value and applicable tax calculation.

This is why Apple’s global price hike matters more in Pakistan than in many other markets. A $100 or $200 increase may appear limited internationally, but in Pakistan, it can raise the base price, increase the rupee conversion cost, and potentially move the device into a higher tax bracket.

The expected price increase comes ahead of Apple’s next major iPhone launch. With the iPhone 18 lineup expected later this year, industry watchers believe the upcoming models may carry higher price tags than the previous generation.

Apple has not yet confirmed how much prices will increase or when the new pricing will take effect. However, Cook’s comments suggest that future iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads could all be affected if memory prices remain high.

The final impact will depend on Apple’s official pricing, the rupee-dollar exchange rate, PTA/FBR tax calculations, and how local importers and retailers adjust prices in the coming months.

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