Telecom industry for promoting digitalisation

ISLAMABAD:

Leaders of the telecom industry have called for incentivising the use of digital payments over cash to help formalise the economy.

In a bid to document the economy, the industry leaders echoed policy recommendations in a recent report titled “Agenda for the incoming government,” released by the Pakistan Business Council.

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In a tweet, Jazz CEO and Telecom Operators’ Association of Pakistan Chairman Aamir Ibrahim underscored the urgency of reforms, which were crucial for improving access to education, healthcare, finance, and other essential services for the people of Pakistan.

To foster widespread broadband adoption, particularly among low-income groups, Ibrahim proposed the rationalisation of WHT from 15% to 8% to make essential telecom and internet services more affordable. At present, a 34.5% tax burden affects over 190 million telecom users, including 15% WHT and 19.5% GST, positioning the country as one of the most heavily taxed telecom markets worldwide.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2024.

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