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A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance in Pakistan witnessed strong criticism today over the heavy taxes imposed on mobile phones imported into the country, especially those carried by overseas Pakistanis.
The issue was raised by Ali Qasim Gilani, who argued that excessive taxation on imported mobile phones burdens not only overseas Pakistanis but also millions of local users. He said the current system creates unnecessary hardship by making smartphone ownership prohibitively expensive.
Gilani stated that both the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Federal Board of Revenue are linked to the problems faced by citizens bringing mobile devices from abroad. He warned that high duties are pushing consumers toward grey market alternatives.
He added that many people now keep two phones, one approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and another operating without local registration, because the duties are unaffordable. He noted even an older device like a six year old iPhone 12 could carry a tax burden of nearly Rs 75000.
Committee Chairman Naveed Qamar acknowledged that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Board of Revenue, but noted that the chairman of the revenue authority was not present at the meeting. As a result, the discussion was postponed until the next session.
During the session, officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority clarified that the authority itself does not impose taxes. They said all taxation decisions and powers lie solely with the government and the Federal Board of Revenue. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority chairman said the authority would prefer lower taxes, especially on older mobile phones, and called for a more rational and consumer friendly tax policy.
With no resolution agreed upon today, the committees postponement leaves the debate over high import duties unresolved, continuing to place a significant financial burden on overseas Pakistanis and local consumers.
