Islamabad, December 9, 2025 — The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has voiced strong concerns over what it calls the “unreasonably high” taxation imposed on mobile phones brought into Pakistan, especially by overseas Pakistanis.
Chairing the 21st meeting at Parliament House, Syed Naveed Qamar stressed that mobile phones are no longer luxury items and should not be treated on par with high-value imports such as luxury vehicles.
The Committee reviewed several legislative items, including “The Corporate Social Responsibility Bill, 2025,” moved by Dr. Nafisa Shah, recommending its passage with amendments. It also endorsed “The Income Tax Ordinance (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025” for approval by the Assembly. “The Netting of Financial Arrangements Bill, 2025” was deferred, with instructions for the Finance Division to revise the draft for clarity and present it in the next meeting.
During the session, the Committee received detailed briefings from the Chairmen of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) regarding the taxation structure applied to mobile phones carried into the country by overseas Pakistanis.
Special Invitee Syed Ali Qasim Gillani and several Committee members highlighted that the current heavy taxes on imported mobile devices are causing significant difficulties for overseas Pakistanis as well as millions of local users. They noted that phones brought from abroad are subjected to additional taxes upon entry under the PTA and FBR’s registration systems.
Chairman Naveed Qamar reiterated that mobile phones have become indispensable tools for communication, education, digital payments, and access to public services. He emphasized that excessive taxes on such essential items place a disproportionate burden on citizens already struggling with inflation and financial pressure. While acknowledging the government’s need for revenue and import regulation, he urged policymakers to ensure fairness and practicality in the taxation framework.
The Committee directed the FBR and Tax Policy Office to reassess the current tax structure for mobile phones under the personal baggage and DIRBS registration categories. Both institutions were instructed to conduct a joint review and submit a comprehensive report by March 2026. The report should cover policy options, economic impact assessments, international comparisons, and suggested revisions for the Committee’s next session.
The Committee also approved the minutes of its previous meeting. The meeting was attended by MNAs Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, Syed Sami Ul Hassan Gilani, Ali Zahid, Dr. Nafisa Shah, Hina Rabbani Khar, Ali Jan Mazari, Dr. Sharmila Faruqui, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Arshad Abdullah Vohra, Shahida Begum, and others, along with officials from the Finance Division, Revenue Division, SECP, and the Ministry of Finance.