The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications recently discussed the delayed mobile phone tax installment plans. The NA IT Committee meeting quickly exposed a complete breakdown in communication between state institutions, namely PTA and FBR.
Committee member Ali Qasim Gilani opened the discussion. He took credit for advocating a recent reduction in mobile phone taxes. However, he stressed that consumers still need a viable installment option to pay these taxes. According to Gilani, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shifted the responsibility to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The FBR claimed that PTA possesses the required system to manage these installments.
PTA vehemently rejected this claim. A PTA member clarified that the authority neither imposes nor collects taxes. The official questioned how PTA could possibly create an installment mechanism for funds it never touches.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Ministry of IT admitted complete ignorance on the matter. He stated that the tax installment issue was entirely out of his knowledge. He promised to consult the PTA Chairman and report back to the NA IT & Telecom committee.
The Chairman of the Standing Committee stepped in to end the back-and-forth. He declared the mobile tax installment plan a top priority. He ordered the Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoITT) and the PTA to arrive fully prepared with a comprehensive briefing at the next committee session.
