In a recent move, the PML-N-led alliance government has proposed to hike mobile phone call rates for non-filers in Pakistan. This proposal was part of the federal budget presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The government aims to widen the tax net and implement stringent policies.
The proposed tax imposition on call rates for non-filers is a hefty 75 percent. This tax increase also extends to non-active taxpayers. If this proposal gets the green light, non-filers could see a 75 percent increase in call rates starting from July 2024.
But that’s not all. The government has also proposed a 33 percent increase in the levy on petrol and diesel. Mobile phones are not spared either, with an 18 percent sales tax proposed on them. Import duties on luxury cars and certain goods are also set to rise.
The budget, amounting to Rs18 trillion, is focused on economic revival. It includes a significant 101 percent increase in the development budget, with a priority on ongoing projects. This move by the government is sure to have wide-ranging impacts on the economy and the lives of the people.
