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Express Tribune
22-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
All the taxes and tariffs you pay on cellular services
Listen to article The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has released a comprehensive breakdown of current mobile service tariffs in the country, including charges for voice calls, data, and SMS. The disclosure comes amid growing public concern over high usage costs and taxes. According to PTA, the basic 'Pay As You Go' (PayG) tariffs—applicable when users are not subscribed to any packages—range between Rs3.2 and Rs3.6 per minute for voice calls. Data usage is billed at Rs3.3 to Rs5 per megabyte, while SMS costs between Rs2.15 and Rs2.5 per message. However, mobile users face a significant tax burden. A Rs100 card recharge effectively credits only Rs86.96 due to a 15% Withholding Tax (WHT). In addition, a 19.5% General Sales Tax (GST) is applied to each individual usage—calls, data sessions, and messages—amounting to an estimated Rs14.19. The combined tax load on a single top-up reaches Rs27.23. PTA clarified that GST is also applicable to all bundles, offers, and subscription-based services. The tax policy applies equally to both prepaid and postpaid customers, covering nearly all segments of mobile users. From a regulatory standpoint, PTA requires operators with Significant Market Power (SMP)—currently Jazz—to obtain prior approval before raising tariffs or launching new packages. These operators must submit detailed proposals, including justifications, consumer impact assessments, and industry comparisons. In contrast, non-SMP operators like Ufone, Telenor, and Zong have the autonomy to set tariffs independently, though all providers are mandated to inform customers at least seven days before implementing any price changes. While PTA did not disclose the date of the most recent tariff revision, the regulator affirmed that any proposed changes by SMPs undergo a strict evaluation process, considering operational costs, inflationary pressures, and broader market trends.
Express Tribune
12-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Cabinet approves judicial officers' welfare fund
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft bill for establishing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Officers Welfare Fund. The fund upon creation is aimed at supporting the judicial officers in situations such as health emergencies, accidents, natural disasters and post-retirement needs. The 27th meeting of the provincial cabinet was held with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair and attended by cabinet members, chief secretary, additional chief secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, administrative secretaries, and advocate general. It also approved a special grant of Rs667.500 million as payment for 150 Kanal land to Peshawar Development Authority for the construction of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy at Regi Model Town, Peshawar. The cabinet approved Rs9,934,000 as additional grant for the Peshawar High Court to purchase vehicle for the official use of the judges while relaxing the ban on purchase of vehicles. Relaxing the ban for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department, the cabinet also approved the creation of posts of various cadres in the Ombudsman Secretariat. The chief minister directed acceleration of work on the establishment of car park near the buildings of the Peshawar High Court and the District Courts. The cabinet approved the draft amendment in Section-2 and 3 (sub-sections 1 to 4) of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Appointment, Deputation, Posting/Transfer of Teachers, Instructors & Doctors) Regulatory Act, 2011. The amendment substitutes the words/term "union council" by "Educational Cluster" wherever appearing in the said Act. The cabinet also approved the draft notification for the establishment of Water & Sanitation Services Company, Haripur. It further approved the posting/appointment of Muhammad Rahman Afridi as Chief Executive Officer (BPS-20) for the Faculty of Paramedics & Allied Health Sciences. The cabinet approved a non-ADP Scheme of Rs310.696 million for the construction of auditorium in Abbottabad Public School. The cabinet approved allocation and release of Rs3.3 million to the Institute of Management Sciences. This fund has been provided as financial assistance to four students of IM Sciences whose startup 'Eagle Tasker', being the only startup from Pakistan, was chosen for the global finale for Hult Prize competition held in USA. The cabinet approved unfreezing of the ADP scheme titled "Establishment of Boys Campus of Model Institute Zamungkor in Peshawar". This scheme is aimed at extension of the institute with a cost of Rs492.755 million. In line with the Child Protection and Welfare Act 2010, ZamungKor was established at Peshawar in 2016 to cater to the needs of vulnerable and destitute children.
