Obnews Tech Desk: Apple's demand for iPhone is constantly increasing worldwide, but there is a huge difference in its prices in neighboring countries like India and Pakistan. Despite the same model, the same features and the same design, the prices of iPhone in Pakistan are much higher than in India. After all, what is the reason for this?
The biggest reason for the high prices of iPhone in Pakistan is the tax structure there. Many types of heavy taxes are levied on importing smartphones in Pakistan, including custom duty, sales tax, and PTA approval charge. Apart from this, due to approval tax imposed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), there is a difference of thousands of rupees in the price of iPhone.
Even though the iPhone is placed in the “luxury” category in India, the tax structure here is comparatively more stable and transparent. Along with this, Apple has set up a manufacturing unit in India, which leads to a decrease in the price of some models.
For example, if the initial price of iPhone 15 in India is around ₹ 79,900, then the same model is available in Pakistan for ₹ 2 lakh to ₹ 2.5 lakh Pakistani rupees. There is also a big difference in the currency value of both countries against the dollar, which further affects prices.
Given the previous trend of Apple, the initial price of iPhone 16 in India is likely to be around ₹ 84,900 to ₹ 89,900. Since Apple in India has promoted local manufacturing, prices remain somewhat under control here. In Pakistan, the estimated price of iPhone 16, including tax and PTA approval fee, can go from 4 lakh to 4.5 lakh Pakistani rupees. That is, the iPhone 16 in Pakistan can be more expensive than 70,000 to 1 lakh rupees than India.
“Due to PTA tax, common people are unable to afford iPhone. This promotes the gray market.” – Mobile device expert, Karachi “The prices of iPhone are somewhat controlled due to local production in India.” – Tech Analyst, New Delhi
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The difference of iPhone prices in India and Pakistan is not only to currency or branding, but is to factors like tax policy, import rules and local manufacturing. This is the reason that the same iPhone is sold at different prices in both countries.
