Expats may get relief in PTA phone taxes

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Thursday apprised the Senate that the government was seriously considering proposals to provide relief in PTA mobile phone taxes for overseas Pakistanis to facilitate expatriates visiting the country.

Responding to a supplementary question raised by Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali during Question Hour, the minister said overseas Pakistanis had repeatedly demanded relaxation in PTA taxes on mobile phones during overseas conventions held in Pakistan.

He said mobile phones brought from abroad remained functional for a limited period of a few weeks, after which services were suspended unless the prescribed PTA tax was paid.

The minister said different tax rates had been fixed for different mobile phone models and the issue of easing the burden on overseas Pakistanis was currently under serious consideration by the government.

The minister said the government was making efforts to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, particularly at a time when Pakistan was witnessing improving economic conditions and growing international investment interest.