Finance Minister Ishaq Dar accepted in principle the demand of mobile phone operators regarding waiver of sales tax on replacement of SIMs during the period from January 12 to February 28 this year being charged by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The minister, along with Minister of State for IT Anusha Rehman chaired a high-level meeting which was attended by mobile phone operators, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Ministry of IT, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Interior regarding re-verification of mobile phone SIMs in the country with particular focus on fiscal aspects of the issues faced by the telecom sector.
“Finance Minister Ishaq Dar agreed in principle on waiver of sales tax on replacement of SIMs during the period from January 12 to February 28, 2015, charged by the FBR provided that a proper definition of “Replacement SIM” was arrived at,” said a statement issued by the finance ministry.
The finance minister said that views expressed by representatives of telecom industry on reduction of taxes would be incorporated in the budgetary proposals for consideration as the budget-making process was about to start.
It was agreed that the NADRA would charge only Rs 10 (instead of Rs 23) for verification purposes for the period of re-verification as agreed between the Ministry of Interior, Telcos and other stakeholders.
The meeting also dilated at length on making stringent measures for provision of security to telcos while on the issue of legal cover for telecos, the Ministry of IT was assigned the task to put forth concrete proposals.
On the occasion, representatives of various mobile phone companies apprised the meeting about difficulties they were facing regarding re-verifications process which is part of the National Action Plan aimed at eliminating terrorism.
