PESHAWAR, July 7: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has levied sales tax on mobile phones in Pakistan.
The FBR has also imposed 250 rupees tax on the sale of each SIM card. A tax of 300 rupees has been imposed on mobile phones with cameras of 2 megapixels or less, having a display of 2.6 inches.
The mobile phones with single or double cameras of 2 to 10 megapixels and display of 2.6 to 5 inches have been taxed Rs500.
According to a notification, fifty percent of the tax will be charged from the importers of the mobile phones and the remaining 50% will be collected from the mobile phone operators.
The FBR has imposed the taxes despite opposition from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
About the decision, a Peshawarite, Mr Abdul Rehman, told TNN, “It is unjust. Pakistanis are already facing inflation and spiralling prices of various commodities. The fresh taxes on mobile phones and SIMs will overburden the citizens much.”
Another resident said, “We expected the incumbent government to give relief to the countrymen, but it did the opposite.”
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