Minister said different tax rates have been set for different cell phone models
ISLAMABAD:
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Thursday informed the Senate that the government is seriously considering proposals to ease PTA mobile phone taxes for overseas Pakistanis to make it easier for expatriates to visit the country.
Replying to a supplementary question raised by Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali during the Question Hour, the minister said overseas Pakistanis had repeatedly demanded relaxation of PTA taxes on mobile phones during overseas conventions held in Pakistan.
He said mobile phones imported from abroad remained functional for a limited period of a few weeks, after which services were suspended unless the prescribed PTA fee was paid.
The minister said that different tax rates had been fixed for different models of mobile phones and the issue of easing the burden on overseas Pakistanis was currently being seriously considered by the government.
The minister said the government was making efforts to help overseas Pakistanis, especially at a time when Pakistan was witnessing improving economic conditions and growing interest in international investments.
