ISLAMABAD — In a major move to assist entry-level and mid-range smartphone users, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by MNA Syed Naveed Qamar, has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to jointly design an installment-based tax payment plan. Lawmakers voiced strong concerns over the booming market of non-PTA compliant devices caused by steep phone import taxes, which currently range from PKR 1,500 up to PKR 141,500 per unit depending on the device category. To facilitate the public, the committee recommended breaking these tax steps into bite-sized monthly payment options while keeping an eye on the massive PKR 37 billion annual mobile import revenue net.
