Senate Committee Flags Major Digital Privacy Lapses
December 12, 2025
A National Assembly committee has ordered the FBR and PTA to review high taxes on mobile phones, calling current levies misplaced and harmful to users and small businesses. Lawmakers want a comprehensive report on tax policy ahead of the March 2026 budget cycle.
Read more: Complete Guide to FBR Registration & Tax Filing in Pakistan (2025)
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, chaired by MNA Naveed Qamar, directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to prepare a detailed review of mobile phone tax rates, including policy options, economic impact, and international comparisons. Committee members criticized the classification of smartphones as luxury items, arguing that heavy duties are driving up costs for ordinary consumers and stifling digital livelihoods.
Lawmakers highlighted how repeated taxation; even when phones are lost or stolen; is squeezing buyers at a time when smartphones serve as vital tools for content creation, e-commerce, and everyday connection. The committee requested the review be completed by March 2026 to allow informed consideration ahead of the next federal budget, while also suggesting relocating smartphones to a more concessionary tax schedule to provide consumer relief.
With smartphone access essential for Pakistan’s digital economy, lawmakers are signaling that tax policy must evolve to support users and local tech adoption, not burden them needlessly.
