Ali Qasim Gilani Urges Removal of PTA Taxes on Mobile Phones

Islamabad: Member of the National Assembly **Syed Ali Qasim Gilani** has written a letter to the **National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance**, urging it to review and remove the **excessive taxes imposed on mobile phones**. He warned that the current taxation structure is **hindering millions of Pakistanis’ access to digital services** and **slowing down the country’s technological progress**.

According to a report by a private TV channel, Gilani stated in his letter that **smartphones have become essential tools for education, business, and access to government and financial services**. He highlighted that **high import duties, sales taxes, and registration fees** imposed by the **Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)** and the **Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)** have made mobile phones unaffordable for many citizens.

Gilani pointed out that **mobile phones valued above USD 500** are subject to a **25% sales tax** in addition to **18% general sales tax (GST)**. Moreover, both imported and locally manufactured phones face additional charges, including fees under the **Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS)**.

“These cumulative costs have become a major barrier, particularly for low-income users and first-time smartphone buyers,” Gilani said. “Mobile phones are no longer a luxury but a fundamental tool for economic and social inclusion.”

He emphasized that the heavy tax burden is **undermining digital inclusion efforts**, **raising business costs**, and **limiting the potential of Pakistan’s expanding online service sector**. Such policies, he warned, could slow innovation and weaken Pakistan’s competitiveness in the **global digital economy**.

Gilani urged the government to adopt a **balanced policy** that ensures national revenue while making smartphones affordable and promoting technological growth. He requested the committee to **urgently review the issue** within its financial reform agenda.