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Category: IT & Telecom

Explore IT and Telecom stories with Pakistan Revenue, your go-to source for the latest updates on Pakistan’s technology and telecom sector. Stay ahead with real-time industry insights and economic developments.

  • PTCL quarterly revenue grows by 11 percent

    PTCL quarterly revenue grows by 11 percent

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Wednesday announced group’s revenue growth by 11 percent for first quarter ended March 2019.

    The financial results announced at the Board of Directors’ meeting held in Islamabad on April 17, 2019.

    PTCL Group’s revenue for the quarter has grown YoY by 11 percent to Rs.33.5 billion as a result of an accelerated growth in the Ufone and Ubank revenues.

    Ufone revenue has increased double digits YoY, UBank, a microfinance banking subsidiary of PTCL, has shown significant growth of 53 percent in its quarterly revenue over last year.

    PTCL Group’s operating profit and net profit for the quarter have improved by 34 percent and 95 percent respectively as a result of the revenue growth.

    PTCL revenue of Rs.17.9 billion for the quarter is slightly lower than last year.

    PTCL’s flagship Fixed Broadband services posted revenue growth of 5.8 percent over last year.

    PTCL continues its journey to upgrade top 100 exchanges under Network Transformation Project (NTP) in different parts of Pakistan.

    For the 76 exchanges fully transformed to date in 12 cities YoY revenue growth is even higher at 12 percent and there is 40 percent reduction in customer complaints.

    Corporate business continued its growth momentum from a strong 2018 and has achieved a double digit growth YoY. Growth drivers for corporate business are Cloud Infrastructure, IT, Security and Managed Services projects.

    Wireless revenue for the quarter has declined on year-on-year basis due to strong competition by the cellular companies providing wireless data services.

    There is continued decline in domestic and international voice revenues due to illegal/grey traffic termination, continued conversion of subscribers to OTT and cellular services resulting in declining voice traffic volumes.

    PTCL posted a Net Profit after Tax which is 10 percent higher than last year.

    Operating profit for the quarter remained under pressure compared to last year mainly due to increase in operating cost on account of significant hike in power tariffs.

    However, non-operating income has increased due to higher income on investments as a result of significant increase in benchmark interest rates by the State Bank of Pakistan.

  • SRB suspends registration of IT firm for unrealistic input tax adjustment

    SRB suspends registration of IT firm for unrealistic input tax adjustment

    KARACHI: Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has suspended sales tax registration of an information technology (IT) firm for unrealistic adjustment of input tax adjustment.

    According to a notice, the SRB suspended sales tax registration of M/s. Cube XS Weatherly (Pvt) Limited. The SRB said that the taxpayer had filed nil return for the tax periods from October 2013 to January 2019 and claimed / adjusted heavy amount of input tax wherein the input-to-output tax ratio is as much as 2,573 percent, which is neither economically possible nor is allowed under provision of Sindh Sales Tax Act, 2011.

    The SRB further said that the taxpayer had adjusted/claimed full amount of input tax without apportioning the same which was tantamount to tax fraud and was also contravention under provincial tax laws.

    The taxpayers had been asked in hearing on February 14, 2019 to furnish the copies of audited financial statements along with bifurcation of revenues/sales but registered person failed to do so.

    “The registered person has neither deposited the Sindh sales tax nor e-filed the returns for the tax period of February 2019,” the SRB said.

    The SRB directed the taxpayer to take remedial actions by April 25, 2019 to revoke the suspension.

    In case of non-satisfactory response or failure to take remedial measures on or before April 25, 2019 the case would be further proceeded for cancellation of the taxpayer’s registration with SRB, the notice said.

  • Adil Rashid appointed as CEO Wateen Telecom

    Adil Rashid appointed as CEO Wateen Telecom

    KARACHI: Wateen Telecom Board of Directors announced today that Adil Rashid has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the company effective April 22 and he will replace Rizwan Tiwana, who has resigned for personal reasons.

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  • PTCL facilitates payment for Netflix subscription

    PTCL facilitates payment for Netflix subscription

    KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has facilitated its customers for pay subscription of Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service, in their monthly broadband bills.

    A statement on Monday said that the PTCL had partnered with Netflix. “This partnership will enable PTCL customers to easily pay for their Netflix subscription as part of their monthly PTCL broadband bills, eliminating the need to share additional credit card or debit card details.”

    New and existing PTCL customers can avail this service by simply registering at https://www.ptcl.com.pk/netflix.

    Speaking on this collaboration, Moqeem ul Haque, Chief Commercial Officer, PTCL, said, “Many PTCL customers enjoy the stellar content catalogue of Netflix through our broadband service that offers seamless high speed internet connectivity.

    “This encouraged us to offer them a convenient way to pay for their Netflix subscription through their monthly PTCL bills.”

    Speaking on the partnership, Tony Zameczkowski, Vice President, Business Development, Asia, Netflix, said: “The growing broadband internet ecosystem in Pakistan is fueling the rise of video consumption in the country.

    “Our association with PTCL enables their customers to seamlessly pay for their Netflix subscription, and enjoy the wide breadth of content from across the world on any internet connected screen.”

    PTCL provides digital lifestyle to its customers through its vast array of products and services, including international collaborations like Netflix that bring ease and convenience to the subscribers.

  • PTCL signs agreement for clean, green Pakistan

    PTCL signs agreement for clean, green Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) have signed an agreement to support the Clean Green Pakistan Movement.

    This collaboration will enable to tackle issues of low forest cover and poor cleanliness in urban & rural areas of Pakistan, said a statement on Tuesday.

    Under this MoU, PTCL and MoCC agreed upon afforestation of 200,000 trees across PTCL sites in the next five years.

    The MoU was signed by Syed Mazhar Hussain, Chief Human Resource Officer, PTCL and Babar Hayat Tarar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, followed by plantation of saplings at PTCL HQ.

    Furthermore, PTCL will initiate cleanliness drives in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to assist the solid waste management.

    In the initial phase, the company pledges to ban non-recyclable plastics in PTCL HQ in Islamabad.

    The company shall also arrange clean drinking water for its employees in connection with its resolve to implement health care and better environment to the workforce.

    Moreover, PTCL will also install filtration units to provide clean drinking water for the general public.

    On the occasion, Ms. Zartaj Gul Wazir, State Minister for Climate Change, said, “We are glad to collaborate with PTCL on Clean Green Pakistan Movement, which is to create awareness across the country regarding the importance of environmental preservation. PTCL has initiated a comprehensive awareness campaign on converting customers from paper bill to eBilling, which is a step in the right direction. As a nation, we need to come together to tackle issues like pollution and low forest cover. Under the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of clean and green Pakistan, partnerships like this are going to pave the way in achieving our objective.”

    On the occasion, Rashid Khan, President and CEO, PTCL, said, “As a national company, it is our responsibility to support Clean Green Pakistan Movement. We are happy to collaborate with Ministry of Climate Change to create awareness and conduct trainings on environmental preservation. To promote this initiative, our teams across Pakistan will be executing afforestation campaigns.”

    In the past, PTCL has partnered with WWF for plantation of200,000 mangrove seeds in Balochistan, as part of the conservation organizations nationwide tree plantation campaign, called ‘Rung Do’. PTCL HQ is also Green Office certified by WWF.

    Recently, the company has also taken steps to ensure that numerous avenues are open for customers to opt for eBilling like PTCL website, Touch App and helpline 1218, to go paperless and save trees.

    PTCL is constantly contributing towards saving the environment and a greener Pakistan.

  • Electronic Market protests against duty, taxes on mobiles

    Electronic Market protests against duty, taxes on mobiles

    KARACHI: Karachi Electronic Market on Monday protested against levy of 100 percent duty and taxes on used imported phones.

    The levy has froze all trading activities at the mobile market, said Muhammad Rizwan, President, Electronic Market.

    The market demanded the government of withdrawing mandatory requirement of approval from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Rizwan said that revenue had not been increased with the PTA condition.

    The protesters hold placard and demanded that curbs on used mobile phones would increased unemployment.

  • PTCL promotes digital billing to save environment

    PTCL promotes digital billing to save environment

    KARACHI: In an effort to save environment, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has urged its customers to opt for digital billing instead of monthly paper bills.

    A statement on Wednesday said that this initiative will, not only create awareness on preserving nature but, also gives customers an opportunity to contribute towards this cause.

    On the occasion, Moqeem ul Haque, Chief Commercial Officer, PTCL said, “PTCL, being a national company, takes its responsibility to reduce paper usage throughout our company that can have a significant impact in going green.

    “We strive to provide our customers with easy and convenient options like eBilling that is secure and saves time.”

    The company has taken steps to ensure that numerous avenues are open for customers to opt for eBilling.

    Customers can subscribe online through the PTCL website and through the TouchApp (Android & iOS).

    The customers can also call on the PTCL helpline 1218, subscribe to eBilling and opt out of receiving paper bills. All new customers are now receiving only eBills.

    Furthermore, customers can pay their bills without showing a paper bill using UPaisa. They only need to provide a telephone number with the area code.

    PTCL is contributing towards saving the environment and a greener Pakistan.

  • SRB suspends tax registration of Cyber Internet Services

    SRB suspends tax registration of Cyber Internet Services

    KARACHI: Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has suspended sales tax registration of M/s. Cyber Internet Services (Private) Limited for making short payment on telecom services.

    The SRB on Tuesday said that the services provided or rendered in respect of telecommunication including internet and bandwidth services are chargeable to the sales tax under the provincial law.

    M/s. Cyber Internet Services (Private) Limited is registered with the SRB since August 04, 2011.

    The SRB said that as per invoices services provided to end consumers of internet services from registered person, it has been observed that the registered person is charging/collecting/depositing Sindh sales tax at lower rate of tax or inappropriate rate of tax i.e. 15.6 percent despite the fact that internet or bandwidth services are chargeable to the Sindh sales tax at 19.5 percent.

    As per the description given on one of the invoice, the registered person has billed the consumer for 10 Mbps internet services package for the month of March 2019 but has charged sales tax of Rs312 on value of taxable services of Rs1.999 (sales tax at 15.6 percent) whereas the applicable rate of tax is 19.50 percent.

    “This is serious violation of provisions of Sindh Sales Tax Act, 2011.”

    Considering the violation, the SRB suspended the sales tax registration of the company with immediate effect.

    However, the provincial revenue authority has given opportunity to the company to take remedial action by April 02, 2019 including submitting the summary of tax collected and charged lower than applicable tax rate in case of telecommunication services from July 2011 till February 2019.

    In case of non-satisfactory response or failure to take remedial measures as suggested on or before April 02, 2019, the case would be further proceeded for cancellation of registration with SRB, the board warned.

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  • SRB suspends sales tax registration of Sharp Telecom

    SRB suspends sales tax registration of Sharp Telecom

    The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has taken decisive action against M/s. Sharp Telecom (Pvt) Limited, suspending its sales tax registration due to failure in making timely payments and filing monthly returns, as per an official notice issued on Friday.

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  • Pakistan imports mobile phones worth Rs55 billion

    Pakistan imports mobile phones worth Rs55 billion

    ISLAMABAD – The import of mobile phones in Pakistan has reached a staggering Rs55 billion during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, despite the government’s concerted efforts to control the import bill.

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