The Minister said that different tax rates had been fixed for different models of mobile phones.
ISLAMABAD:
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Thursday informed the Senate that the government was seriously considering proposals to provide relief on PTA mobile phone taxes for overseas Pakistanis to facilitate expatriates’ visit to the country.
Replying to a supplementary question raised by Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali during Question Hour, the minister said overseas Pakistanis had repeatedly demanded relaxation of PTA taxes on mobile phones during overseas conventions held in Pakistan.
He said mobile phones brought from abroad continued to work for a limited period of a few weeks, after which the services were suspended unless the prescribed PTA tax was paid.
The minister said different tax rates had been fixed for different models of mobile phones and the government was currently seriously considering the issue of easing the burden on overseas Pakistanis.
The minister said the government was making efforts to help overseas Pakistanis, particularly at a time when Pakistan was witnessing improved economic conditions and growing international investment interest.
