Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja requested that the Tax Policy Office evaluate lowering taxes on older mobile phones. Khawaja proposed inviting representatives from the Tax Policy Office to hold discussions regarding consumer relief.
The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat recently held a meeting to deliberate on mobile phone taxation. Representatives from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication participated in the session.
According to Shaza Fatima, 93 percent of the mobile phones used in Pakistan are manufactured locally. She stated that handsets produced within the country do not face taxes, while imported phones represent a small portion of the market.
FBR officials noted that the specific model and storage capacity of a device are the primary factors used to determine applicable taxes. These officials also clarified that the PTA system does not identify specific phone models.
Khawaja added that the import of 5G smartphones is not a concern and that FBR taxes are not hindering the adoption of 5G technology. The prime minister has instructed the government to create a policy enabling consumers to buy mobile phones through easy installments.
