SC suspends service charge tax on mobile services
Hearing of case adjourned for an indefinite period
Federal government, provincial governments of Punjab and Balochistan sought more time from the court on the matter. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday suspended the service charge tax collected by cell phone companies on post-paid mobile services.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar presided over the hearing pertaining to additional taxes charged by mobile phone companies.
Top court suspends 'exorbitant' tax on prepaid mobile bills
"Punjab is incurring a loss of Rs2 billion the due to cancellation of service charges," Advocate General Punjab Shan Gul informed the court during the proceedings, to which the CJP responded that "if you are wrongly collecting taxes, then it's not a loss."
"If a person loads a 100 rupee card, then why should the province receive a share from it," the top judge remarked, and questioned the provincial representative regarding the service being provided by the province in such a scenario.
The federal government and the provincial governments of Punjab and Balochistan have sought more time from the court regarding the matter.
The court also ordered to continue the provision of relief to customers and adjourned the hearing of the case for an indefinite period.
In June, the supreme court suspended ‘exorbitant tax deductions’ on prepaid mobile cards.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday suspended the service charge tax collected by cell phone companies on post-paid mobile services.
Chief Justice Saqib Nisar presided over the hearing pertaining to additional taxes charged by mobile phone companies.
Top court suspends 'exorbitant' tax on prepaid mobile bills
"Punjab is incurring a loss of Rs2 billion the due to cancellation of service charges," Advocate General Punjab Shan Gul informed the court during the proceedings, to which the CJP responded that "if you are wrongly collecting taxes, then it's not a loss."
"If a person loads a 100 rupee card, then why should the province receive a share from it," the top judge remarked, and questioned the provincial representative regarding the service being provided by the province in such a scenario.
The federal government and the provincial governments of Punjab and Balochistan have sought more time from the court regarding the matter.
The court also ordered to continue the provision of relief to customers and adjourned the hearing of the case for an indefinite period.
In June, the supreme court suspended ‘exorbitant tax deductions’ on prepaid mobile cards.