The Pakistan Telecommuni-cation Authority (PTA) took action on Tuesday to clarify media reports claiming the authority had abolished the tax on incoming international telephone calls. The authority said the matter is currently being heard by the Lahore High Court (LHC).
The announcement comes just a day after the PTA had to issue a clarification denying that the ban on the video sharing website YouTube has been lifted.
This recent clarification followed a notification issued by the authority about the decision to suspend interconnection circuits of long distance and international operators.
“It [the notification] is being misinterpreted,” PTA spokesperson Malahat Rab told The Express Tribune.
She further said that the matter was sub judice and the LHC would take it up on December 5 (today).
The LHC had earlier sought a reply from the PTA regarding the levy of an additional tax on incoming international telephone calls and had issued a stay order. The court issued the order on a petition moved by Saad Saleem on behalf of Pakistani expatriates financially overburdened by an additional tax on international calls.
Previously, a local telecom company filed the main petition challenging the levy of the additional tax. This company contended that an additional tax on the incoming international calls was a violation of the rules prescribed in section 4 of the Competition Commission Act which prohibits the price fixing and division of markets through quotas.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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Plz tell whn is da nxt hearing n decision kua hua?
Plz tell whn is da nxt hearing if any ine knows n tax hta k ni
hi i requested to remove tax from incomming call pleaseeeeeeeeeee
Still higher tax is charge by PTA its a request to PTA please take back all the extra charges its request from bottom of million of overseas
i request PTA to please decrease the rates as it really hurts me when i see the people of india and bangladesh calling their countries at low rates and make long duration calls but we are unable to do so :-(
Next Hiring is on 14 jan 2013. or more visit . http://pakzindabad.com/2012/12/14/tax-on-international-calls-lahore-high-court-seeks-from-pta/
Plz bro prey that tex will take back .
@Tariq: let us know the way you have found
Its very sad to see that the government of Pakistan is playing games with us overseas Pakistanis who pay back alot towards the Pakistan economy. We have our beloved back home who we call but the government of Pakistan have no shame as to how hard it is for us to earn a living. I hope that the people of Pakistan realize that they need real people to run the country and not the uneducated elite or the so called dynasty run style politics that is being played with our loveable Pakistan. The people of Pakistan need to wake up and this is the time for them to wake up during this years election. I pray to the Al Mighty that we get some good people to run our country but i don't think this will happen because of the lack of education in our country. By the way i'd like to let the PTA know that i have found a way of making cheaper calls.
We are still waiting for this decision. I don't know when the Tax will be removed on international calls. Because we are spending much more on making call to home. Which is double than before. I hope that Supreme Court will do something about this baseless Tax.
i there anyone to update us what is outcome of Court decision regarding above nonsense decision was taken by PTA?
Today 13th dec is the hearing of this case in high court. Any update?
We are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the news item. Tax has not been abolished as yet. How much time we have to wait for the implementation of the decision take by the PTA in which is in favor of overseas Pakistanis. Is any one there to hear our call????????
request to pta please solve the problem of international calling.... we spend more money to calling pakistan.....my job not enoufgh for calling... suddenly solve the problem ................. thanks for pta
Often i feel shy of being calling my self paki and u ppl know y it is due to acts like such
I request to PTA to remove the TAX that pakistani living in abroad had an option of cheapest call to their relatives. A lot of people are away from their families. They had only one opportunity which PTA has snatched. People of other countries other than pakistan are enjoying telephone by cheapest call, as you know that overseas are playing big role in pakistan economy and besides inflation the present govenment of pakistan snatched this facality of people living in abroad. Other countries are giving more facalities to their people but pakistani government giving trouble to the people day by day. What people will remember of this govenment.
PTA, how much more blood do you want to suck?
It's a stupid act on behalf of PTA.... They are just defending their wrong act.
Let me guess ban will be lifted...and call will be charged with tax
This is very disappointing news that PTA still advocating their wrong act and LHC not yet decided to abolish this undue burden some tax on Pakistani Expats all over the world. We are remitting money in Pakistan, Paying several type of taxes and we do not have right to talk to our beloved ones in our country and Govt making it difficult day by day…. 1st Govt not providing with enough jobs in local market due to worst ever economic situation in country and 2nd making our life tougher by implementing unjustified taxes and duties……….