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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.

  • Huwaei to set up regional headquarters in Pakistan

    Huwaei to set up regional headquarters in Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Huwaei Group has announced to set up its regional headquarters in Pakistan and also announced to invest around $100 million this year in the country.

    Vice President of Huwaei Group, Mark Xueman, who along-with a delegation called on Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar in Islamabad on Wednesday.

    Vice President of Huawei said that Pakistan is a strategic market for Pakistan and said that the company will invest around $100 million in the country this year.

    He apprised that Huawei will also set up a regional headquarters in Islamabad at a cost of $55 million that will create job opportunities for young engineers in Pakistan.

    He further informed that Huawei will also invest $15 million more in its Technical support Centre in Pakistan and it will also hire more work force for the same taking the number of its staff from 600 to 800 this year.

    He stated that Huawei is eager to initiate more projects in Pakistan on grant funding from Chinese government.

    Federal Minister Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar appreciated Huawei’s continued engagement in Pakistan and said that the leading technological company can support in developing and upgrading IT sector of Pakistan.

    Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, PD CPEC Hassan Daud and senior officials of the ministry were also present.

    Makhdum Khusro noted that Huawei has 25 percent share in mobile industry of Pakistan and is also the top taxing paying Chinese company in the country.

    The Minister appreciated Huawei’s engagement with HEC for smart schools project with the latest information and communications technology equipment.

    The Minister underlined on exploring new business models for future projects and joint ventures in Pakistan.

    He said that Huawei can contribute to the Government’s e-governance initiative as well in centralizing data to improve efficiency and productivity. The Minister opined that Huawei can support IT start-up projects in Pakistan to benefit the youth in this important sector.

    The minister assured of the ministry’s all possible cooperation in future joint ventures.

  • Finance Act 2019: advance tax exempted on personal baggage mobile phones

    Finance Act 2019: advance tax exempted on personal baggage mobile phones

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has exempted the advance tax on mobile phone brought into Pakistan by passengers under Baggage Rules, 2006.

    The Finance Act, 2019 stated that the provisions of section 148 shall not apply on mobile phones brought in personal baggage under the Baggage Rules, 2006.

    The rate of advance tax to be collected by the Collector of Customs under section 148 shall be-

    S.No.C & F Value of mobile phone (in US Dollar)Tax

     

    (in Rs.)

       
    (1)(2)(3)
    1Up to 3070
    2Exceeding 30 and up to 100730
    3Exceeding 100 and up to 200930
    4Exceeding 200 and up to 350970
    5Exceeding 350 and up to 5003,000
    6Exceeding 5005,200

  • Duty exemption on foreign bandwidth services withdrawn

    Duty exemption on foreign bandwidth services withdrawn

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced the withdrawal of duty exemption on foreign bandwidth services provided by telecom operators.

    (more…)
  • FBR advised to allow tax adjustment on telecom services

    FBR advised to allow tax adjustment on telecom services

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been urged to allow adjustment of withholding tax on services provided telecom sector.

    The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) in tax proposals for budget 2019/2020 recommended that the eight percent minimum tax regime should be withdrawn and should be made adjustable.

    The OICCI said that through Finance Act, 2016, an amendment was made in Section 153(1)(b) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 whereby the 8 percent withholding tax deducted against the services provided by telecom companies, along with other service providers, have been subjected to a charge of minimum tax instead of adjustable regardless their actual income or loss.

    This tax has thus changed the character of income tax from a direct tax to an indirect tax as the amount of charge would no longer be applicable on the quantum of income actually earned even under the standard income tax rules.

    Furthermore, the exorbitant rate of 8 percent will seriously erode the profitability, or further increase the losses, of the telecommunication industry which according to independent reports is in shackles and is already the victim of discriminatory taxation.

    Consequent to the above amendment in the law, non-issuance of exemption certificates under Section 153(1)(b) on Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 in view of the imposition of the minimum tax has also increased the administrative burden of both the telecommunication companies and the withholding tax monitoring units of FBR as the tax that was previously deposited lump-sum as advance tax is now being collected by thousands of corporate customers across Pakistan.

  • Ufone wins silver trophy at Effie Awards

    Ufone wins silver trophy at Effie Awards

    KARACHI: Ufone has been awarded with a prestigious silver trophy at the Effie Pakistan Awards 2019, in the category of ‘Sustained Success’ for its Super Card Communication Campaigns.

    The awards, held around the world annually, celebrate companies with outstanding marketing communications ideas.

    Winning an Effie symbolizes a great sense of achievement for marketers, and Ufone is proud to have won for their Super Card campaigns, a statement said on Saturday.

    The sustained success category, unlike business category specific awards, is a special category in which products or services which have sustained success for three or more years are awarded for their continued success and overall excellence in business results and brand KPI success.

    Ufone won the award for its Super Card Communication. Over three years, Ufone Super Card, through it insightful communication has enabled the company to build trust with customers and become the benchmark for all in one bundle cards in the industry, and now owns the convenience positioning in consumers minds.

    Ufone Super Card campaigns were built around the concept of “befikri” or the peace of mind that it provided customers.

    The Ufone marketing team and JWT, together searched for real life stories, and insights from all across Pakistan, in order make the award winning campaigns over a three year period.

    The campaigns showed how our real customers used Super Card to achieve their full potential.

    The Effie Awards recognize forms of marketing communication that contribute to a brand’s success.

    Any idea driven by any marketing communications medium is eligible for an Effie, as long as results are proven.

    The not-for-profit initiative between Pakistan Advertisers Society and Effie Worldwide spotlights marketing ideas that work and encourage thoughtful dialogue about the drivers of marketing effectiveness.

    Winners demonstrate excellence in four key areas: definition of objectives, strategic development, creative execution, and measurement of results.

  • PTCL offers 40 percent discount on all new connections

    PTCL offers 40 percent discount on all new connections

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has offered 40 percent discount on installation charges on all new connections for a limited time period only, a statement said on Wednesday.

    All new connections include PTCL unlimited internet, digital quality TV & reliable telephone services that allow subscribers to get best experience.

    Customers can now enjoy high speed unlimited internet up to 20Mbps on copper and up to 100Mbps on fiber at affordable prices on different packages and services across Pakistan.

    Talking about the offer, Yasir Manzoor, General Manager Content and Multimedia, PTCL, said: “PTCL continues to offer best-in-class services to its valued customers.

    “We are constantly working to improve our products and services in line with the customers’ expectations.”

    Being a national company, the general manager said that every citizen should be able to experience a digital life style.

    “Therefore, PTCL is introducing such offers to cater to the ever increasing demand for unlimited data and high speed internet at affordable rates.”

    PTCL endeavors to serve customers across Pakistan with a wide and diverse range of products and services.

  • Jazz, Enfrashare partner to accelerate telecom infrastructure

    Jazz, Enfrashare partner to accelerate telecom infrastructure

    KARACHI: Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital communications company, and Enfrashare (Private) Limited have signed an agreement to accelerate growth in telecommunications infrastructure.

    This partnership will propel Jazz in strategically expanding its digital infrastructure robustness across both the rural and urban sections of the country, said a statement on Monday.

    Under this partnership, Enfrashare will develop the telecom infrastructure and also provide key services for Jazz, thereby reducing Jazz’s capital investment, paving the way for the digital giant to focus on core business functions and continue upscaling its connectivity reach.

    This collaboration will also enhance Pakistan’s critical communication infrastructure network, while also allowing Jazz to meet its coverage and capacity requirements.

    Aamir Ibrahim, CEO – Jazz commented on the deal: “We aim for rapid digitalization through such strategic investments. Our partnership with Enfrashare marks a new milestone for Pakistan’s connectivity agenda.

    “Together, we are enhancing the local telecom infrastructure and expanding Jazz’s effort to spur the digital turn-around even further.”

    Enfrashare, with its expertise and investment in infrastructure provides an opportunity for the country to be part of the new digital era upon which the sectors of education, agriculture, financial services and health can capitalize and grow.

    To enable this and establish operations, Engro Group has already approved an investment of PKR 7.5 billion in the company.

    Rehan Hassan, CEO, Enfrashare said, “Enfrashare firmly believes that connectivity is now a basic human need, it is the conduit that enables social and financial inclusion.

    “This requires significant capital investments in infrastructure while displaying the highest levels of service quality. We are proud to be recognized by Jazz as a trusted partner to develop and manage these critical assets.”

  • FBR updates procedure for mobile device registration

    FBR updates procedure for mobile device registration

    ISLAMABAD: Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) is a system designed to identify non-compliant devices operating on local mobile networks.

    It automatically registers compliant devices operating on the mobile networks and eventually blocks non-compliant devices, according to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

    DIRBS has been launched from December, 2018.

    International passengers and Importers are requested to view the following information to confirm the correct procedure for registration of mobile devices.

    The FBR said that for further information on the matter kindly visit: Device Verification System – PTA

  • Deduction of withholding tax on phone cards begins

    Deduction of withholding tax on phone cards begins

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has started collecting withholding tax on phone cards on Friday following the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP).

    The apex court a day earlier in its judgment said that it would not interfere the taxation matter. The superior court itself suspended the taxation on phone cards in June 2018 after taking suo moto notice.

    The FBR started up to 12.50 percent withholding tax on prepaid card of mobile phones.

    Besides, the provinces have also started collecting sales tax on services on mobile phones usage at 17 to 19.50 percent.

    In the federal capital territory the FBR is collecting federal excise duty on mobile phones in sales tax mode.

    However, the service charges of mobile phone companies were still undecided as the apex court had not issued any such orders.

  • Engro Corp announces Rs7.5 billion investment in telecom infrastructure

    Engro Corp announces Rs7.5 billion investment in telecom infrastructure

    KARACHI: Pakistan’s premier conglomerate, Engro Corporation, has announced investment in telecom infrastructure.

    The investment has been approved by board of directors of the corp. in its meeting held on April 25, 2019. The BoD also approved financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

    Engro Corporation, in light of its long-term strategy, has streamlined its businesses in four verticals namely Food & Agriculture, Energy & Related Infrastructure, Petrochemicals and Telecommunications Infrastructure; focused on creating value and helping Pakistan resolve these pressing issues.

    In order to develop potential business opportunities in the telecommunications infrastructure vertical, the Company had earlier set up Enfrashare (Private) Limited.

    Enfrashare will accelerate development of the country’s connectivity infrastructure, thereby providing an opportunity for people to be part of the new digital era.

    As an initial investment, Enfrashare will engage in the acquisition & construction of shared telecom towers, provision of various telecommunication infrastructure & related services, including state of the art network monitoring solutions.

    “To enable this, the Directors have approved an investment of Rs7.5 billion in this vertical,” a statement said on Friday.

    Ghias Khan, President & CEO Engro Corporation said: “Investments in energy, telecommunications infrastructure, petrochemicals and food and agriculture can accelerate change, help towards increasing exports, substitution of imports, industrialization in the country, job creation and hence build a stronger Pakistan.”

    “Engro Corporation will continue to explore investment opportunities across these four identified verticals with a focus to improve the lives of our stakeholders and communities in which we live and work with a culture founded on truth, trust and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”

    Furthermore, to continue building on Engro’s experience in the Petrochemical sector and keeping with its strategic ambitions that the Company will seek investment opportunities in this vertical, the Board of Directors approved the commencement of a feasibility study of a polypropylene facility based on a propane dehydrogenation plant.

    This will also enable the company to initiate discussions with potential partners and/or stakeholders for developing this project.

    Investment in the Petrochemical sector will create opportunities for both substituting the imports & enhancing the export potential, thus help in building foreign currency reserves of the country.

    Simultaneously with a view to expand its footprint outside Pakistan and to explore potential trading opportunities, the Board has also approved the acquisition of 100 percent shares of Engro Eximp FZE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Engro Fertilizers Limited, for Rs1.76 Billion (subject to adjustments at the date of closing of the transaction and corporate approvals).

    The company’s consolidated revenue grew by 21 percent in comparison to the prior period, driven by higher Urea sales in the Fertilizer business.

    The Company posted a consolidated profit-after-tax (PAT) of Rs6,565 million compared to PKR 6,837 million for the prior period.