CJP takes suo motu of Rs40 tax deduction on Rs100 mobile card

ISLAMABAD: In what could be considered as complaint of every Pakistani, the chief justice has now taken notice of it.  The CJP has issued summons to mobile phone operators and other relevant officials on high levy charged on mobile phone cards in the country.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of about 40% deduction on Rs 100 mobile card across all cellular networks in Pakistan. Expressing wonder on this heavy tax deduction, the CJP asked why such a huge amount is deducted by the private mobile companies and under what tax heads.

The apex court issued notices to all the mobile telephone operators in the country and summoned the attorney general over the issue. Reports say the Supreme Court will take up the case on Tuesday next week.

Under the tax, for every Rs100 pre-paid mobile phone card, the users get only airtime for Rs66.5 after deduction of Rs33.5 in for 14pc withholding tax and 19.5pc sales tax. Around 70pc or 98 million mobile phone users pay these taxes every time they load the Rs100 pre-paid cards.