ISLAMABAD: Ufone has topped to achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) set for performance of cellular mobile operators by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), a statement said on Wednesday.
(more…)Tag: PTA
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New mobile phone registration payment validity is seven days: PTA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday said that payment of duty and tax for new mobile phone registration has to be made within seven days.
In a statement, the authority said that the validity of all applications and payment slip identification (PSID) is seven days. During this period the applicant has to pay duty and taxes with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The PTA said that after lapse of seven days in which payment has not been made then the application/PSID would automatically deleted from the system. In such cases the claimants could not make payment at banks on invalid PSID.
The authority said that in case expiry the applicants need to re-submit application for issuance of new PSID.
The PTA introduced Device Identification Registration Blocking System (DIRBS). As par law all the new mobile phones has to get registration through this system within 60 days before linking to any local cellular provider.
The PTA facilitated the registration of new mobile phones through three different ways including website, SMS and franchise of mobile operators/service centers.
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Committee directs PTA to take harsh measures against hate speech on social media
ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Wednesday directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take harsh measures against hate speech and religious intolerance on social media.
The Committee met under the chairmanship of Syed Amin-ul-Haque, MNA in Parliament House and directed PTA to assert its regulatory role on telecommunication sector for improvement in service delivery and coverage in far flung areas.
The Committee also directed PTA to take stringent measures to address the menace of hate speech and religious intolerance on social media.
The Committee was given a comprehensive briefing about the regulatory mechanism of PTA and its future initiatives.
The Chairman PTA apprised the Committee that PTA was actively pursuing its role as regulator on the telecommunication sector.
He informed that PTA had ensured service delivery in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the telecommunication licenses, modernization of services, regulate competition between telecom operators besides protecting consumers’ interests.
Responding to a query of a Member, the Chairman PTA apprised that the Authority also ensures effective compliance of telecom services in far-flung areas by operators through Universal Support Fund (USF).
He assured that PTA would take up the provision of telecom services through USF in Baluchistan and erstwhile FATA Districts.
The Chairman PTA further informed that installation of Mobile Towers especially in the residential areas was allowed after a stringent process of verification and compliant to universal health and safety standards.
The Committee appreciated the performance of PTA, however, directed to take appropriate measures against fraudulent element defrauding people of their money through mobile networks, obscenity, spreading hate speech, sectarianism and religious intolerance.
He informed that investment conducive environment created by government had resulted in 70 percent rise in mobile devices assembly which would ultimately result in their manufacturing in Pakistan.
The Committee while reviewing compliance of Committee’s earlier directives/recommendations appreciated the timely response by the Establishment Division.
The Committee recommended for developing Standard Operation Procedure for disposal of cases of deputation in Federal Government Department under wedlock policy.
The Committee directed Federal Public Service Commission to conclude inquiry into the alleged unauthorized amendment in FPSC rules within six weeks.
The meeting was attended by Ali Muhammad Khan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs MNAs; Ali Nawaz Awan, Aamir Talal Gopang, Muhammad Aslam Khan, Ms. Uzma Riaz, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, Mohsin Dawar, Additional Secretary, Establishment, Chairman PTA, Secretary Federal Public Service Commission and Senior Officers of the concerned departments.
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Two cellular companies pay $449 million as license renewal fees
ISLAMABAD: The government has received $449 million from two cellular companies as license renewal fees.
“The government of Pakistan has received payment amounting to $224.6 million and Rs 35.262 billion (equivalent of $224.6 million) from two cellular companies respectively as their license renewal fee,” says a press statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the license renewal fee of telecom companies collected by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is a significant source of non-tax revenue for the federal government.
“The government received Rs 35.2 billion from Jazz and US$ 224.6 million from Telenor in partial settlement for their cellular license renewal,” Dr. Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, said in a twitter message.
“Good news for the telecom industry and revenue collection of the federal government,” he added.
Due to stay orders given by the apex court, the collection of this renewal fee from two telecom companies which was budgeted in previous fiscal year had been delayed.
However, with the efforts of the Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, his team led by Secretary Finance and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, due payment from the two companies has now been received by the government.
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Zong becomes first operator to conduct successful 5G trial
ISLAMABAD: Zong CMPAK has become the 1st Pakistani telecom operator to have successfully conducted the 5G trial, said a statement issued by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday.
The PTA said that this year it unveiled its roadmap for facilitating public testing of 5G technology and related services in Pakistan in line with the policy of the government.
Zong CMPAK has become the 1st Pakistani telecom operator to have successfully conducted the 5G trial.
This is a proud moment for Pakistan and testament to the accelerating technological innovation within the country.
Wireless technology developments, like 5G are expected to deliver increased flexibility, reliability and capacity to help meet requirements of a Digital Pakistan.
This trial is the first one being conducted and there will be more on the different scenarios of 5G in the near future. PTA, as a regulator of ICT sector, is committed to supporting technology and innovation in Pakistan.
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FPCCI seeks removal of protective duties on Pakistani products by Turkey
KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has urged Turkish authorities to remove protective duties imposed on Pakistani products.
“Turkey should remove local preventive in PTA/FTA with Pakistan,” said Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, President, FPCCI in a statement on Friday.
He said that in the past textile exports to Turkey was based on normal tariffs of imports but later Turkey imposed protective duties i.e. 18 percent which were very high, leading to decline in the earlier registered increase in the textile exports to Turkey.
The volume of bilateral trade between both nations drastically reduced from US$1.08 billion to US$792 million after imposition of protective duty on textile.
He appreciated the efforts of Government of Pakistan and Turkey to enter into Strategic Economic Framework (SEF) for enhancement of bilateral relations in trade, tourism, healthcare, hospitality, industry, education, housing, agriculture, aviation and banking.
He further stated that Pakistan and Turkey has concluded nine rounds of negotiations including SEF; but so far the reports/outcome of negotiation has been not shared with the concerned stakeholders.
He emphasized on the need of strong home-working of the government with the consultation of stakeholders for formulating list of concessionary items for FTA in trade with Turkey.
Turkey being part of customs union with the EU, providing assumption that Pakistan may also have access to Turkish market under GSP+ status.
This assumption was diluted due to refusal of Turkey to extend GSP+ status to Pakistan and Turkey proposed conducting negotiations on bilateral FTA between both countries.
The President FPCCI urged the government to resolve all antidumping and non-tariff barriers before entering into SEF.
Textile, rice, cutlery, crockery, badges, Musical instruments, surgical instruments, gloves, footwear, sports good, construction materials and leather products are the main exportable items of Pakistan that needs special market access to Turkey by reduction in tariff rates.
He also stated that Pakistan offer Turkish for their participation in special economic zones which may add to the quality competition in specific housing, food and pharmaceutical industries.
He also underlined the need of activation of train service with Turkey in order to reduce trade cost and transit time as trade through sea is not cost effective for both the nation.
He further added that Turkey should promote trade directly with Pakistan instead of third countries like importing of surgical items from Germany that are originally manufactured in Pakistan.
He also underlined the need of simplification of visa procedure for genuine businessmen and traders. He further added that Pakistan and Turkey both are active members of ECO, Developing eight and Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). FPCCI will take up the above issues in the meeting between FPCCI and TOBB in the forthcoming meetings, he added.
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Exemptions, concessions cost Rs972.4 billion in 2018/2019
ISLAMABAD: The economy has incurred duty and tax losses to the tune of Rs972.4 billion due to exemptions and concessions during the fiscal year 2018/2019, according to Economic Survey 2018/2019 launched on Monday.
The cost of tax exemptions included: income tax Rs141.6 billion, sales tax Rs597 billion; and Rs233.1 billion as customs duty.
Income Tax:
1. Tax credit for charitable donations u/s 61 Rs2.448 billion
2. Tax credits u/s 64A Rs1.191 billion
3. Tax credit u/s 64AB deductible allowance on education expenses Rs0.067 billion
4. Tax credit for employment generation by manufacturers u/s 64B Rs0.0096 billion
5. Tax credit for investment in balancing, modernization and replacement of plant & machinery u/s 65B Rs90.954 billion
6. Tax credit for enlistment u/s 65C Rs0.356 billion
7. Tax credit for newly established industrial undertakings u/s 65D Rs5.487 billion
8. Tax credit for industrial undertakings established before the first day of July, 2011 u/s 65E Rs6.458 billion
9. Tax credit u/s 100C Rs13.977 billion
10. Tax credit for investment in shares and insurance u/62 Rs2.055 billion
11. Tax loss due to exempt business income claimed by IPPs under clause (132) of Part I of the Second Schedule Rs18.034 billion
12. Tax loss due to exemption to export of IT services under clause (133) of Part I of Second Schedule Rs0.608 billion
Sales Tax:
SRO Loss of sales tax due to exemptions projected for FY2019, based On July-March figures:
SRO 1125(1)/2011, dated 31.12.2011 (leather, textile, carpets, surgical goods etc.) Rs86.7 billion
Import under 5th Schedule Rs0.59 billion
Local supply under 5th Schedule Rs53.5 billion
Imports under 6th Schedule. Rs53.7 billion
Local supply under 6th Schedule Rs247.3 billion
Imports under 8th Schedule Rs62.7 billion
Local supply under 8th Schedule Rs93.3 billion
Customs Duty
Concession of customs duty on goods imported from SAARC and ECO countries Rs348.8 million
Exemption from customs duty on import into Pakistan from China Rs2.5 million
Exemption from customs duty on import into Pakistan from Iran under Pak-Iran PTA: no loss
Exemption from customs duty on imports into Pakistan from under SAFTA Agreement Rs1,614.8 million
Exemption from customs duty on import into Pakistan from China Rs31,620.7 million
Exemption from customs duty on goods imported from Mauritius Rs6 million
Exemption from customs duty on import into Pakistan from Malaysia Rs3,162.7 million
Exemption from customs duty on import into Pakistan from Indonesia under Pak-Indonesia PTA. Rs3,950 million
Exemption from customs duty on imports from Sri Lanka Rs2,401.6 million
Conditional exemption of customs duty on import of raw materials and components etc. for manufacture of certain goods (Survey based) Rs4,755.1 million
Exemption of customs duty and sales tax to Exploration and Production (E&P) companies on import of machinery equipment & vehicles etc. Rs5,725.7 million
Exemption from customs duty for vendors of Automotive Sector Rs26,604.4 million
Exemption from customs duty for OEMs of Automotive Sector Rs38,818.8 million
Exemption from Customs Duty on Cotton Rs2,275.9 million
Exemption from Customs Duty for CPEC Rs1,009.2 million
Exemption from Customs Duty for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Rs749.1 million
Chapter 99 Exemptions [Special Classification Provisions] Rs10,530.8 million
5th Schedule Exemptions/ concessions Rs99,558.0 million
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Customs unfolds bid to clear mobile phones on passengers’ stolen information
KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has unfolded a bid to steal the data of air travelers for the purpose of mobile phone registration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
According to the details the customs staff posted Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), Karachi detained a person, who was fraudulently obtained data of air travelers including passport numbers for clearing mobile phones at customs stage and for clearing PTA restriction.
As per regulations only PTA certified mobile phones are allowed to have active connection in Pakistan. In this regard passengers arriving from abroad are allowed to clear one mobile phone without payment of duty and taxes. However, more than one phone will attract levy.
Details revealed that customs authorities recovered around 63 mobile phones from a passenger namely Muhammad Umar arriving from an international flight.
The accused passenger entered details of passengers into the PTA system to get cleared the mobile phones without duty and taxes. The accused passenger managed to get clearance from the PTA for those 63 mobile phones.
This was confirmed by Muhammad Faisal, Deputy Collector of Pakistan Custom.
The customs official said that the authorities had lodged an FIR against the accused for smuggling cell phones and stealing information of passengers.
Faisal said that the accused had indulged in clearing mobile phones by entering details of passengers including CNICs, flight number and passport numbers etc.
The accused in his statement said that many travel agencies were involved in this scam.
The customs official said that PTA had been requested to introduce bio-metric system for the clearance of mobile phones.
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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.
