International incoming calls: LHC directs PTA to confirm withdrawal of additional tax
The Lahore High Court directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Auth-ority (PTA) on Wednesday to submit a copy of a notification about the withdrawal of an additional tax on incoming international telephone calls.
Earlier, PTA’s counsel told the court that the tax challenged by a petitioner had been withdrawn, and therefore, the petition should be dismissed.
The petitioner’s counsel, however, alleged that the tax was still being collected on incoming international calls and that overseas Pakistanis were facing problems.
The court then directed the PTA lawyer to submit a copy of the notification on the next hearing.
The court also extended a stay order against the recovery of the tax till December 13, the next date of hearing.
A private company, Brain Telecommunication, had filed the petition challenging the levy of the additional tax. The petitioner stated that the additional tax was in violation of the rules prescribed under section 4 of the Competition Commission Act which prohibits price fixing and division of market through quotas.
It said the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) was mandated to provide free competition in all spheres of commercial and economic activity to enhance economic efficiency and to protect consumers from anti-competitive behaviour.
The petitioner said the CCP had also objected to the additional tax but the PTA ignored the reservations. The petitioner added that overseas Pakistanis had been facing immense difficulty and financial losses due to the “illegal” additional tax.
The petitioner requested the court to declare the impugned tax unlawful and restrain PTA from collecting the same.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (28)
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i call before 2month PTA they said rate ll be back in 1month but still tax on call and now dont think about LHC because LHC forward case to FIA holly crap LHC thought they got wrong case after 6 7 hearing suddenly our honorable judge thought it should forward to FIA now case in FIA hands and better we forget that rate ll come down again, we should stop using phone use skype yahoo msn when they ll get nothing they ll reduce rate simple or make big effort if u have recourse political millage because every party want to be great we should to contact thm they can raise this issue in better way sorry for negative idea but its true this only work in Pakistan.
@shahid: thts really a gr8 news and effort from anyone who is taking action hope that all ur efforts will bring some positive color .. thnx my brother ...
Dear Friends, I have just sent a query to Lahore high court in his regards and am now going to contact several media sources to raise the issue, I would like you all to strongly raise the issue with media as since PTA notification was issued, Pakistan media has stopped following the case, therefore we all will have to approach media at individual level if we want something seriously done about it.
still the increased rates .... why PTA not issue notifications as per orders of LHC ? do anyone know how to contact any media person or LHC so that anyone help to take action against PTA for this cruelty.... plz for the sake of all overseas pakistanis do something..
Whats doing LHC
can any body update me that what is the delay for restoring old rates and when is the hearing date for this case and how long LHC need to make a order to the PTA or this case is going to 2014 with difrent hearing dates
I was informed a week ago by Braintel that is working again with the same old rates. Call rates by others have not been reduced like call4sale is charging 9.9 cents and phonepower 19 cents per minutes. Too much.
Does anyone know the status of this, calls are still expensive, the tax is removed but still PTA is not issuing the notification. Any update?
Foreigner Pakistanies are really struggling to contact their Families and love ones Back home. Please pay attention on this issue and raise voice
What a folish pakistan government gave order to move tax on international incoming call but calls still expensive for oversea pakistani.I ask one question what mistake oversea pakistani.Why pakistani government give punishment to oversea pakistan.You compare to Bangladesh and India than you easly judge what do pakistani government with us,,,,,,,,
Old rates still not restore yet why????
There is no law and order in Pakistan. every person of the government is involved in corruption even he is a managing director or peon. I wish PTA withdraw the additional tax very soon and praying that may Allah give them hadaya.
How long it will take to resolve this, does anyone know the status of this notification.is it already submitted to court?
We our Corrupt Government is not going to implement the Lahore High Court's order for removal of extra ordinary taxes on incoming calls to Pakistan. Though PTA has issued notification in this respect, but all in vain. How long more the Overseas Pakistan will suffer in this regard. All relevant authorities are requested to utilize their powers for implementation.
LHC is hearing the case today (12/13/12) and PTA is suppose to present the notification's copy in the court. Lets see what happens after that.
@mumtaz8: the old rates still not restore yet why????
Many things have been said but nothing been done, come to think of it thats how pakistan has been running since day 1, so i wouldnt expect anything from them
When is going to impelement old rates . . . . please tell any one
this is really unfair for hardworking Pakistanis living abroad they want to talk with their beloved ones wives but now this s impossible because of extra tax which has to pay by overseas pakistanis we are all very upset instant action should be taken by pakistani goverment we relly believe on that
That's TRUE this massive increase in calls rates for Pakistan is a crime done by pta people from our neighbouring countries like India china, are paying 1p per minute and we pay 8p per minute . Everyone is complaining about it.
I don't think so that they will understand polite language. I wish to catch all the incompitent political leaders and throw them in Arab Sea to make clean our country forever.
See the tax on incoming calls creat a huge problem for overseas but these stupid are trying how to extend this difficult time for the people especialy in abroad.
The people are filled-up with the attitude of the current incompitent government team.
I think nothing is gonna happen because beside the court stay order the paki government is still charging the additional tax on all incoming calls. I don't understand that what kind of country pakistan is? I think the whole of Pakistan looks to me FAT where might is right is the only rule. Every one knows that Mr Zardari don't comply with any court order. There is no one in the country to implement the court order. Shame on each and every organisation including Pak army.
We are still facing problems for international calls,How poor this government still begging by force.lolz
This is not fair nowadays everyone is going for free calls and PTA and Pakistan government wants to charge so much and then they say to send money back home in a proper manner.All the top people of PTA should get the sack and I would like to see what they have and there bank accounts because they are all traitors and sucking the blood of hard working people.
*We are being punished by our government since long time.we are working away from our country because we did not get job in our homeland due to unemployment,facing all kinds of difficulties adding foreign exchange reserves we have the right to receive some incentive for us and for our family but things are in reverse we are charged for everything,our custom duties are for everything. Government itself is delaying to remove tax so that they can receive some more additional income. This tax really affected overseas specially in Gulf whose majority are labourer
What a folish pakistan government gave order to move tax on international incoming call but calls still expensive for oversea pakistani.I ask one question what mistake oversea pakistani.Why pakistani government give punishment to oversea pakistan.You compare to Bangladesh and India than you easly judge what do pakistani government with their people.