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IT Product Standards & ISO Adoption
| Product Category | Certification Requirement | Applicable Standard | Fees (PKR) | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Phones & Tablets | Mandatory Type Approval | PMER / PTA DIRBS | PKR 15,000-25,000/model | Federal/ICT |
| Laptops & Desktops | Conformity Certificate | IEC 60950 Series | PKR 20,000-35,000/model | Federal/ICT |
| Networking Equipment | Type Approval Required | ITU-T Recommendations | PKR 37,000-50,000/model | Federal/ICT |
| IT Accessories | Self Declaration Certificate | Pakistan Standards (PS) | PKR 5,000-15,000/category | Federal/ICT |
| IoT Devices (New) | Enhanced cybersecurity compliance | SRO 1847(I)/2023 | PKR 20,000-40,000/model | Federal/ICT |
| Smart Electronics | Enhanced cybersecurity | SRO 1847(I)/2023 | PKR 15,000-30,000/model | Federal/ICT |
| Standard | Scope | IT Relevance | Certification Cost (PKR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | Quality Management Systems | Overall quality process management | 75,000-150,000 |
| ISO 27001:2013/2022 | Information Security Management | Critical for IT security; often required by government contracts | 100,000-250,000 |
| ISO 20000-1:2018 | IT Service Management | ITSM best practices; service delivery | 75,000-200,000 |
| ISO 22301:2019 | Business Continuity Management | BCP/DR certification; client requirement | 75,000-150,000 |
| ISO 27701:2019 | Privacy Information Management | GDPR compliance extension; PIMS | 100,000-200,000 |
| Equipment Type | PSQCA Required? | PTA Type Approval? | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile phones with SIM | Yes (quality/safety) | Yes (spectrum/telecom) | Both required |
| Wi-Fi routers | Not typically | If used in telecom network | Check with PTA |
| Laptops (no SIM) | Yes (product safety) | No | PSQCA only |
| IoT devices with SIM | Yes (quality) | Yes (PTA registration) | Both required |
| Servers (no SIM) | Limited requirement | No | Check PSQCA |
| Violation | Penalty | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Unlabeled products | Fine up to PKR 100,000 (per PSQCA Act 1996 §14) | Federal/ICT |
| False labeling | Fine up to PKR 200,000 (per PSQCA Act 1996 §14) | Federal/ICT |
| Repeat offenses | Imprisonment up to 3 months + fine | Federal/ICT |
| Import without PSQCA certification | Product seizure + fine | Federal/ICT |
| Non-compliance with SRO 1245 | Customs clearance denied + penalty | Federal/ICT |
| Benefit | Detail | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty Exemption | 0% duty on IT equipment imports | PSEB / SRO 488(I)/2013 |
| WeBOC Filing | Electronic customs declarations | weboc.gov.pk |
| Annual Exemption Limit | Up to PKR 5M per annum on eligible imports | PSEB/EDB guidelines |
| PSQCA Certification Still Required | PSEB duty exemption does NOT waive PSQCA | SRO 1245(1)/2021 |
| Office | Address | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Plot 1-A, Sector H-8/1, Islamabad | +92-51-9212901-5 / info@psqca.gov.pk |
| Karachi | 5th Floor, Trade Tower, Shahrah-e-Iraq | — |
| Lahore | 2nd Floor, Punjab Chamber of Commerce | — |
| Peshawar | University Road, Hayatabad | — |
The Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), established under the PSQCA Act 1996, is the national standards body. While primarily known for industrial and consumer product standards, PSQCA's mandate extends to IT and ICT standards that directly affect technology companies operating in Pakistan.
| Requirement | Product Category | PS Standard | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSQCA Marking | IT equipment (laptops, monitors) | PS 5198, IEC 60950 | Mandatory at import |
| Safety Certification | Power supplies, chargers | PS 5198-1 | Mandatory |
| EMC Compliance | All electronic/IT devices | CISPR 22 / 32 | Voluntary (enforced for govt tenders) |
| Quality Management | Software/service orgs | PS 3086 (ISO 9001) | Voluntary but preferred |
| Info Security Mgmt | Data-sensitive IT firms | PS 4640 (ISO 27001) | Mandatory for govt data handling |
| Item | Rate | Jurisdiction | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Export WHT | 0.25% (PSEB) / 1% (non-PSEB) | Federal/ICT | ITO 2001 §154A |
| Corporate Tax (IT) | 20% | Federal/ICT | ITO 2001 §35 |
| Customs Duty (IT Equipment) | 0–3% (PSEB) / 5–20% (non-PSEB) | Federal | Pakistan Customs Tariff 2025–26 |
| Startup Tax Credit | 100% for 3 years | Federal/ICT | ITO 2001 §65F(b) |
| SST IT Services | 3% (Concessional) | Provincial | Respective provincial SST Acts |
| EOBI | 5% employer + 1% employee (PKR 37,000/mo ceiling — EOBI Act & Rules) | Federal | EOBI Act 1976 |
| PSQCA Certification Fee | PKR 15,000–50,000 | Federal | PSQCA Act 1996 Schedule |