Govt Collects Rs. 84B in Mobile Taxes, Pushes Privatization

Between July 2024 and March 2025, Pakistan’s mobile users paid a staggering Rs. 84.24 billion in taxes, as disclosed by the Ministry of Finance during a session of the National Assembly.

This substantial sum, collected by mobile service providers, is channelled straight into the national exchequer, reinforcing the government’s revenue stream.

Massive Expansion in the Tax Net

Efforts to widen the tax base appear to be bearing fruit. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) revealed during the session that 2.39 million new taxpayers have been registered thanks to recent changes in tax laws. As of April 29, 2025, the total number of individuals who have filed tax returns has climbed to 6.59 million. This tally includes 106,118 Association of Persons (AOPs) and 93,749 companies.

The government’s plan to offload public sector enterprises is gaining momentum. Lawmakers were briefed that the Cabinet Committee on Privatization sanctioned the privatization of 24 public sector entities during its meeting on August 2, 2024. This sweeping reform will unfold in three stages over five years.

In the first phase, slated for completion within a year, several high-profile institutions are on the chopping block. These include Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), First Women Bank, House Building Finance Corporation, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), and Pakistan Engineering Company (PECO). Key power distribution companies, IESCO, GEPCO, FESCO, and Sindh Engineering Limited, are also part of this initial batch.