Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has directed not to immediately implement the restrictions on bringing mobile phones from abroad.

Prime Minister has instructed not to tighten the new provisions and to continue with the old process.

Nepalis who are employed abroad are protesting that the government is going to charge up to 18 percent tax on bringing a mobile phone from abroad.

The Nepal Telecommunication Authority had set a deadline for implementing the Mobile Device Management System (MDMS) from today to control customs evasion mobile phones.

After the implementation of that system, if more than one mobile phone is brought as a gift while returning from abroad, customs duty will be charged up to 18 percent and if the third mobile phone is brought, it will be confiscated by the customs department.

The Prime Minister has expressed his concern after the opposition started to discourage the illegal import, sale, distribution and use of mobile sets.