KARACHI: Foreign and multinational companies have demanded the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to exempt sales tax and customs duty on import of telecom equipment in order to encourage investment in this sector.
The Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) in its proposals for budget 2019/2020 said that telecom was very investment intensive sector and it should be given concessions in terms of reduced rates of customs duties and exemption of sales tax against import of telecom equipment.
The exemption and concessions are important to promote the teledensity throughout the country especially in far flung areas so that the benefits of next generation mobile services can be reached to the masses living in backward areas, said the OICCI – the representative body of foreign investors and multinational companies in Pakistan.
Previously, telecom sector was importing telecom equipment at 5 percent customs duty and zero percent sales tax under SRO 575, however, through Finance Act, 2015, this SRO was rescinded and consequently, the customs duties on network equipment have been increased from 5 percent to 20 percent and sales tax exemption has been removed.
“The increase in custom duty and levy of sales tax has badly affected the pace of growth and digital inclusion as the cost of doing business has been significantly increased which is an additional barrier to network coverage in Pakistan,” the OICCI said.
The roll out of 3G/4G network is still very much at the early stages and reduction in customs duties and restoration of sales tax exemption will help the operators to sustain the necessary investments.
Therefore, the OICCI recommended to reinstate the concessionary custom duties/ exemption of sales tax (refer SRO 575) to encourage investments in IT/ telecom infrastructure.
