Govt asked to reduce taxes on telecom industry

The Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Thursday said mobile phones are one of the most effective tool to lift people out of poverty and provide opportunities to entrepreneurs therefore government should reduce taxes on telecom industry. Pakistan’s telecom industry has been paying Rs 57 billion tax per year, which is one of the most heavily taxed sectors in the SAARC region, it said. Mobile phones have brought about remarkable social progress in low-income countries while its impact has been estimated at a quarter of trillion USD in the poverty belt that includes South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, said Farida Rashid, President IWCCI. Mobile phones is a great productivity tool which make citizens economically strong who in turn make their governments more accountable and friendly to worthy causes including a peaceful and prosperous world, she added.